Trump, the 2024 Republican presidential candidate, has made
support for law enforcement a focal point of his campaign to
defeat Democratic President Joe Biden in November's election,
set to be a close, deeply divisive contest.
"President Trump is moved by the invitation to join NYPD Officer
Jonathan Diller's family and colleagues as they deal with his
senseless and tragic death," Trump campaign spokesperson
Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
The NYPD did not immediately respond to a request for comment
and confirmation of Trump’s attendance at the wake, due to be
held in Massapequa on Long Island, east of New York City.
Diller, a three-year veteran of the force, was fatally shot
below his bullet-resistant vest during a traffic stop on Monday
in the New York borough of Queens. Two suspects have been taken
into custody, according to media reports.
During his campaign rallies, Trump often seeks to portray crime
as out of control in the U.S. and to pin the blame for that on
Biden, even as data shows violent crime in the nation is at one
of the lowest rates in decades.
Trump, who is facing four criminal trials as he seeks the
presidency, peppers his campaign speeches with promises to
restore "law and order" and to bolster protections for officers
facing litigation for their conduct on the job.
At the same time, he frequently attacks New York state Attorney
General Letitia James for bringing a civil fraud case against
him, Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, for
prosecuting him over alleged hush money payments to a porn star,
and other prosecutors for cases against him.
Trump posted a tribute to Diller, 31, on his Truth Social
platform on Tuesday.
"To Officer Diller’s family, and all of the other brave men and
women of law enforcement who put your lives on the line every
day, we love you, we appreciate you, and we will always stand
with you!" Trump said in the post.
(Reporting by Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut and Tim Reid
in Washington; Editing by Colleen Jenkins)
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