US President Donald Trump says he would like to see a ban on police choke holds in most instances, although he suggested their use would be understandable in some one-on-one situations.
"I don't like choke holds ... (but) sometimes, if you're alone and you're fighting someone, it's tough," Mr Trump told Fox News Channel.
"It would be, I think, a very good thing that, generally speaking, it should be ended," he said.
Mr Trump's comments follow the 25 May death of African American George Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis policeman knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Mr Floyd's death ignited a wave of protests in US cities and abroad and it re-energised the Black Lives Matter racial justice movement.
That crisis, coupled with the economic devastation of the COVID-19 shutdown - and the fact that the pandemic continues to kill up to 1,000 people a day - has left the country crying out for healing.
The Republican has struggled to find the right tone to address the explosion of protests over the last two weeks.
Police stand guard as people gather at a barricade trying to get a look at the arrival of President Donald Trump during a fund raising trip in Dallas. Source: AP
On Thursday he announced modest plans for an executive order on policing, while making it clear he would not support sweeping proposals in response to the protests.
Some Republicans in Congress have indicated support for certain measures proposed by Democrats, including a ban on choke holds and eliminating the legal defence of "qualified immunity", which helps officers evade civil rights lawsuits.
"I think it's a disgrace and it's got to stop," Mr Trump said of police violence against African Americans.
He added that the actions of a "bad apple" could not be allowed to destroy the image of law enforcement officers who "take really good care of us".
In the interview, which was taped on Thursday, Mr Trump said he wanted "really compassionate but strong law enforcement".
He said the concept of banning choke holds "sounds so perfect".
But he said the use of a choke hold could be understandable "if a police officer is in a bad scuffle and he's got somebody in a choke hold".
"And that does happen. So, you have to be careful," Mr Trump added.
Critics of the president say Mr Trump is incapable of embracing broader public fears, pointing to the contrast between shows of empathy from previous presidents during crises and Mr Trump's instinct for fighting and insulting foes, even in the midst of calamity.
"For weeks we've seen President Trump run away from a meaningful conversation on systemic racism and police brutality. Instead, he's further divided our country," Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said on Thursday.
"Today's trip to Texas won't change any of that. President Trump is more interested in photo ops than offering a healing voice as our nation mourns."
Despite his poll numbers being underwater five months ahead of election day, Mr Trump is betting that he needn't change tack.
His base has remained loyal throughout the extraordinary turmoil, and he has made clear his priority is getting back on the campaign trail.
On Friday the president headed to his first campaign fundraiser since the COVID-19 lockdown began - a $US580,600 ($A845,000) per couple event. Then he flies to his golf course resort in New Jersey for the weekend, another post-COVID first.
On 19 June he will restart his series of rallies - raucous, often two-hour love fests between himself and thousands of his most loyal supporters - with an event in Oklahoma.
