WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday hosted members of the Fraternal Order of Police at the White House for a roundtable in which he praised its leadership’s support of what he calls his “one big, beautiful bill” as it works its way through Congress. 

What You Need To Know

  • President Donald Trump on Thursday hosted members of the Fraternal Order of Police at the White House for a roundtable in which he praised its leadership’s support of what he calls his “one big, beautiful bill” as it works its way through Congress
  • Patrick Yoes, the president of FOP, with more than 375,000 members is the world’s largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, thanked the president for moving to fulfill a campaign-trail pledge with the legislation, which still faces a ways to go and a few potential hurdles ahead before it can become laws
  • In announcing his backing of the bill containing Trump’s legislative priorities after it passed the House last month, Yoes specifically pointed to the overtime tax provision and new state and local tax deduction cap as particularly “important to the rank-and-file members of the FOP"
  • The ultimate fate of both provisions, however, is somewhat uncertain as the Senate now seeks to craft the legislation in their own mold in order to get it across the finish line in the upper chamber
  • Trump also used the roundtable to praise law enforcement and declare himself “the most police president"

“I'm also deeply grateful to the national Fraternal Order of Police for its resounding endorsement of the one big, beautiful bill, which is moving along very nicely with great support,” Trump said. “It's a great bill.” 

Patrick Yoes, the president of FOP, with more than 375,000 members is the world’s largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, thanked the president for moving to fulfill a campaign-trail pledge with the legislation, which still faces a ways to go and a few potential hurdles ahead before it can become law. 

“And I want to start by saying that you made a promise that you were going to address tax on overtime and that was a promise made,” Yoes said, adding the bill is “certainly making good on that promise.” 

Yoes went on to note the “serious problems” law enforcement entities are having with recruiting and retention, saying a halt in taxes on overtime pay would keep officier from being pushed into different tax brackets when they have to work extra hours. 

In announcing his backing of the bill containing Trump’s legislative priorities after it passed the House last month, Yoes specifically pointed to the overtime tax provision and new state and local tax deduction cap, known as SALT, as particularly “important to the rank-and-file members of the FOP.” 

The House-passed bill would extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, designate additional funds for defense and border security, and seek to make up for lost revenue to the federal government from tax cuts in part by making changes to programs such as Medicaid and SNAP. It also includes an increase in the cap on the SALT deduction to $40,000 – an issue of particular importance to a handful of House Republicans who represent districts in blue states with high taxes such as New York, New Jersey and California – and temporarily ends taxes on overtime pay. 

The ultimate fate of both provisions, however, is somewhat uncertain as the Senate now seeks to craft the legislation in their own mold in order to get it across the finish line in the upper chamber. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., already said following a meeting with Trump at the White House on Wednesday that “there really isn't a single Republican senator who cares much about the SALT issue.”

The bill would still have to pass the House again after clearing the Senate if changes are made before it can get to Trump’s desk. And shortly after Trump and Yoes met, a bubbling dispute over the legislation between the president and billionaire Elon Musk, formerly a staunch ally, exploded into public view.

Trump also used the roundtable – which included members of FOP from across the country including Dallas, Houston, Nashville, Miami, Jacksonville, Louisville and more – to praise law enforcement and declare himself “the most police president.” He called FOP members specifically the “backbone of American law enforcement.” 

Trump touted actions he has taken as president, such as applying the death penalty to anyone who murders a police officer. 

Attorney General Pam Bondi said at the roundtable that the administration designated $157 million in grant money last month aimed at helping law enforcement agencies hire officers, with the expectation it will facilitate the hiring of nearly 1,200. Separately, she also noted the Department of Justice has brought 138 cases in 33 states against people who have assaulted police officers since January. 

The vice president of the FOP, Joe Gamaldi, meanwhile, praised Trump’s border policies as aiding law enforcement in their jobs.