MASSapequa Park, N.Y. (AP) — Donald Trump attended a wake Thursday. New York City police officer shot dead The presumptive Republican presidential nominee has focused on crime in his third White House campaign, accusing President Joe Biden of lacking toughness and is not acting professionally.
A visitation was held in suburban Massapequa for Officer Jonathan Diller, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop on Monday. Police said Diller, 31, was shot under his bulletproof vest as he approached an illegally parked car in Queens.
Diller, who was married and had a 1-year-old son, was rushed to the hospital, where he died.
President Trump's visit came while Biden was also in New York. Pre-scheduled fundraising activities With former Democratic presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Trump's campaign posted on social media comparing his visit to Biden's fundraising efforts.
In a post on I'm sure he'll take part in some flashy fundraising events within the country.” Celebrity patrons who cannot be contacted. ”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that the president had spoken to the mayor of New York, but when asked if Biden had spoken to the families of the officers involved in the incident, she responded, “I have no personal information to share.” He said there was no “realistic communication.” he was killed Jean-Pierre said the government's hearts go out to the police officer's family.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, she took a dig at Trump's record, saying Biden has supported law enforcement throughout his career. “Violent crime skyrocketed under the previous administration,” Jean-Pierre said. “The Biden-Harris administration has done just the opposite, taken decisive action from the beginning to defund the police and achieved historic crime reductions.”
Mr. Trump visited with senior campaign advisers and shook hands with New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban, Nassau County police and government officials as he entered the funeral home.
President Trump deplores crime in Democratic-dominated cities, but They called for the shoplifter to be shot immediately. And he wants to exempt police officers from lawsuits for potential misconduct.But he also demonizes the district attorney, the FBI, and the Department of Justice. regarding the criminal charges he faces. investigation while he was president Interactions with Russia in his first campaign.
he also hugged people who were imprisoned for their role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, when a mob of angry supporters overran police lines and stormed and beat Capitol Police and local police officers. .
The Trump campaign has not disclosed details about whether he will appear or speak.
“President Trump is moved by this invitation to the family and colleagues dealing with the senseless and tragic death of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller,” Trump campaign spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt said in a statement. .
Massapequa and the surrounding South Shore towns have long been a popular destination for city police officers and firefighters looking to put down roots on Long Island. A thin blue line, a symbol of police unity, was painted on the road leading to the funeral home, and American flags with American flags and a thin blue line were displayed on both sides of the road.
Two pickup trucks with pro-Trump decals and flags with the slogan “Make America Great Again” were parked nearby. Dozens of supporters wearing Trump paraphernalia stood nearby in the pouring rain.
The former president and his supporters Split screen similar to Biden's earlier this month Both men went after the president over crime and illegal immigration while campaigning in Georgia.President Trump met with families of those killed during his visit to the state. Nursing student Laken Riley. An immigrant who illegally entered the U.S. from Venezuela is charged with death.
President Trump posted about Diller's death on his social media networks Tuesday, offering his prayers to Diller's family and thanking law enforcement. He also called the gunman a “thug,” noting that police said he had been arrested multiple times in the past and asserting that “he should never have been put back on the streets.”
Diller became the first New York City police officer killed in the line of duty in the last two years.
The last time he died in the line of duty was the shooting death of two New York City police officers, and the day after his second funeral, Mr. Visited the police station headquarters Then I talked to executives and upper management.
Biden promised the federal government would work more closely with law enforcement to combat gun violence and crack down on illegal guns.
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Price reported from New York. Associated Press writer Colleen Long aboard Air Force One contributed to this report.