President Trump said Friday “it’s a shame what’s happened” with the FBI, calling the agency’s handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation “really disgraceful.” Trump, who has described the agency as “in tatters,” told reporters “we’re going to rebuild the FBI.” Then the president told law enforcement leaders at the FBI academy in Quantico, Va., that he is “more loyal than anyone else could be” to police. He spoke at a ceremony for law enforcers graduating from a program aimed at raising law enforcement standards, the Associated Press reports. “The president of the United States has your back 100 percent,” Trump told graduates, saying law enforcement needs to be supported. “Anti-police sentiment is wrong and it’s dangerous,” he added. “Anyone who kills a police officer should get the death penalty.”
Trump used the speech to celebrate his decision to make it easier for local police forces to purchase surplus military equipment, and to question rising violence in Chicago. “What the hell is going on in Chicago? What the hell is happening there,” he asked. Trump traveled to Quantico after making negative tweets about the FBI. He said the FBI’s reputation was in “Tatters – worst in History!” That was a reference in part to an agent’s making critical comments about Trump as he was campaigning or president. Trump also called popular former FBI Director James Comey, whom he fired in May, “a liar” and “a leaker.” Trump also accused the FBI, without providing any evidence, of illegally wiretapping Trump Tower in 2016. Although Friday’s session was held at an FBI facility, there were few FBI agents present because the event was for local law enforcers. A last-minute invitation went out to FBI personnel to attend the event, but almost immediately, FBI personnel were told that there was no room for additional attendees, the Washington Post reports.