Houston Police Chief Rips Donald Trump’s Violent Rhetoric: 'Keep Your Mouth Shut'

“This is not Hollywood. This is real life, and real lives are at risk,” Chief Art Acevedo told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.
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Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo on Tuesday ripped President Donald Trump’s divisive rhetoric on the protests that have erupted nationwide following the death of George Floyd.

“Let me just say this to the president of the United States on behalf of the police chiefs in this country: Please, if you don’t have anything constructive to say, keep your mouth shut. Because you’re putting men and women in their early 20s at risk,” Acevedo told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.

“It’s not about dominating. It’s about winning hearts and minds,” the police chief continued, referencing Trump’s order earlier this week that governors should “dominate” anti-racism protesters.

Acevedo clarified that police did “not want people to confuse kindness with weakness, but we don’t want ignorance to ruin what we’ve got here in Houston.”

“And it hurts me to no end because whether we vote for someone or we don’t vote for someone, he’s still our president. But it’s time to be presidential and not try to be like you’re on ‘The Apprentice,’” he added. “This is not Hollywood. This is real life, and real lives are at risk.”

Check out the interview here:

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