Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said Thursday on Fox News that former President Donald Trump was a “source of comfort” to the family of New York City Police Department Officer Jonathan Diller, who was killed during a vigil.
Mr. Blakeman appeared on “Hannity” on Monday about Mr. Trump’s presence at Mr. Diller’s death after the 31-year-old police officer was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop in Far Rockaway, Queens. Fox guest host Jeanine Pirro questioned Nassau County executives about what a wake for the former president would be “like on the inside.”
Blakeman described the intimate moment as Trump spoke to each family member individually and “expressed his condolences.” Blakeman went on to say that more than 200 people gave Trump “a wild round of applause” as he left the group. (Related: ‘They won’t learn’: President Trump shoots ‘thug’ gunman at vigil for slain NYPD officer)
“Well, I have to say that President Trump was a source of comfort to the family. He spent more than 10 minutes in private with his widow Stephanie. He then went out to the main hall, where the casket was laid to rest, and police officers Dillon’s body was laid to rest. He and Stephanie prayed together and talked about what a wonderful person Jonathan was. President Trump then visited each family member one by one to offer his condolences. He asked her to sign a mass card. He signed the mass card and then stood up. At that time, Officer Diller’s grandmother asked the President for a hug, and the President hugged her and hugged her tightly.” said Blakeman.
“As he leaves the area with more than 200 friends and Officer Diller’s family, his young son Ryan, Officer Diller’s mother Fran, his brother and sister, and son-in-law, they will do something I have never seen before. I saw you before, Janine, at the wake. They gave him enthusiastic applause. They clapped their hands to express their gratitude for President Trump’s kindness and compassion. It was a very, very beautiful and warm moment. It was an event I will never forget, and I think it was a great comfort to my family as well. ”
On Monday night, Diller conducted a routine traffic stop after spotting a car illegally parked inside a bus stop. according to to the New York Post. When they arrived at the car, Guy Rivera, 34, refused to get out of the car and shot Diller in the abdomen, just below his bulletproof vest. Later reports revealed that Rivera had been arrested 21 times before the incident and was serving a five-year prison sentence on drug-related charges, the paper said.
President Trump attended Diller’s wake for which he was invited, and President Joe Biden met with former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton for a re-election fundraising event. Mr. Biden met with Democratic New York Mayor Eric Adams and expressed his condolences to Mr. Diller’s family.
