President Donald Trump ripped New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio for $1 billion dollars in cuts from the police budget.
Trump made his comments on Wednesday in a pair of tweets.
He wrote: “NYC is cutting Police $’s by ONE BILLION DOLLARS, and yet the @NYCMayor is going to paint a big, expensive, yellow Black Lives Matter sign on Fifth Avenue, denigrating this luxury Avenue. This will further antagonize New York’s Finest, who LOVE New York & vividly remember the horrible BLM chant, ‘Pigs In A Blanket, Fry ‘Em Like Bacon.’
"Maybe our GREAT Police, who have been neutralized and scorned by a mayor who hates & disrespects them, won’t let this symbol of hate be affixed to New York’s greatest street. Spend this money fighting crime instead!"
De Blasio has defended the city’s decision to cut the police department budget as a “profound change” at a time when profound change is needed in the city and nation.
The money will instead be invested in community centers and other initiatives that will "help us be a safer city in the future," said de Blasio.
The city will still keep the number of police officers it needs on patrol.
Meanwhile, the mayor had said Wednesday the city will paint a Black Lives Matter mural in front of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, the Daily News reported.