Washington, June 13 (RHC)-- U.S. President Donald Trump has described the concept of chokeholds as "so innocent" and said the controversial method used by American police may be needed in dangerous situations.

"If a police officer is in a bad scuffle and he's got somebody... you have to be careful," Trump said in an interview with Fox News.  The president said "the concept of chokeholds sounds so innocent, so perfect."  Trump went on to claim he doesn't like chokeholds but then defended the controversial practice in certain situations against "tough" and "bad" people, though he acknowledged that the practice should be ended in most cases.

"The chokehold thing is good… to talk about," Trump said.  "But if you’re thinking about it, then you realize maybe there is a bad fight and the officer gets somebody in a position that’s a very tough position," he added.

In the wake of unarmed African American George Floyd's death in police custody last month, banning chokeholds has become a key issue for American lawmakers.  Floyd died after a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

Floyd's death ignited a new wave of protests across the United States against police brutality against people of color.

Chokeholds have come under scrutiny repeatedly in the wake of police involved killings in recent years, including in the case of Eric Garner.

Garner, a 43-year-old African American, died after being placed in the chokehold by Daniel Pantaleo on Staten Island on July 17, 2014.