Biden, White House shift tone on law and order amid crime spike in America

President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have attempted to distance themselves from the push to defund the police as big cities have become hotspots for violent crime, including robberies, murders, assaults and retail theft.

Recent surges in crime have led many Americans to question the "defund the police" movement, with cities like Seattle, Minneapolis and New York rejecting measures to withdraw funding from law enforcement officials. A Fox News poll from April found that a majority of registered voters disagree with reducing police funding and moving it to other areas.

Prior to taking office, Biden suggested on the campaign trail that he would be "absolutely" OK with efforts to redirect some police funding, a suggestion he later walked back as he targeted Republicans and claimed they were "lying" about efforts promoted by members of the Democratic Party to "defund the police."