Trump to cops: 'Please don't be too nice' while arresting 'thugs,' and don't worry about their heads when you toss them in the 'paddy wagon'

President Donald Trump appeared to advocate for tougher police conduct during a speech to law enforcement officials in Brentwood, New York on Friday.

Trump took a moment during the speech, which was focused on the administration's efforts to destroy the street gang MS-13, to let the law enforcement officers know he is okay with them being rougher while apprehending violent suspects.

After saying that his administration is speedily ridding the country of "criminal cartels" (although he added that "we'd like to get them out a lot faster"), he launched into an unscripted rant related to how cops put suspects into the back of police vehicles.

"When you see these towns and when you see these thugs being thrown into the back of a paddy wagon, you just see them thrown in, rough," Trump said. "I said, 'please don't be too nice.'"

"Like when you guys put somebody in the car and you're protecting their head, you know, the way you put their hand over. Like, 'don't hit their head' and they've just killed somebody," Trump said. "'Don't hit their head.' I said, 'you can take the hand away.' OK?"

The cops standing behind Trump gave a loud round of applause.

Watch Trump's comments: