Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman said Thursday on Fox News that former President Donald Trump was a “source of comfort” to slain New York Police Department officer Jonathan Diller’s family during the wake.
Blakeman appeared on “Hannity” to discuss Trump’s attendance at Diller’s death after the 31-year-old officer was shot and killed Monday during a routine traffic stop in Far Rockaway, Queens. Fox guest host Jeanine Pirro questioned the Nassau County executive on what the wake was “like inside” with the former president there.
Blakeman described the intimate moments, stating that Trump addressed each family member individually and “offered his condolences.” Blakeman continued to note that as Trump was leaving the group of over 200 people gave “him a rousing ovation.” (RELATED: ‘They Don’t Learn’: Trump Blasts ‘Thug’ Gunman At Murdered NYPD Officer’s Wake)
“Well, I have to tell you that President Trump was a source of comfort for the family. He spent over 10 minutes with Stephanie, the widow, in private. Then he went out into the main hall where the casket was laid and where police officer Dillon’s body was laid. He and Stephanie prayed together, they talked about what a great guy Jonathan was. Then President Trump went to each member of the family and offered his condolences. The family asked him to sign a mass card. He signed the mass card and then he got up. Then police officer Diller’s grandmother asked the president for a hug and he embraced her and held her very tightly,” Blakeman stated.
“As he left that area with over 200 friends and family of police officer Diller – with their little boy Ryan, with police officer Diller’s mother Fran, with his brother and sister, and son-in-law – they did something I’ve never seen before, Jeanine, at a wake. They gave him a rousing ovation. They clapped their hands and showed their gratitude for President Trump’s kindness and for his compassion. It was a very, very beautiful and warm moment. It’s one that I will never forget and I think it was very comforting for the family.”
On Monday night, Diller performed a routine traffic stop after spotting an illegally parked car within a bus stop, according to the New York Post. Upon reaching the vehicle, suspect Guy Rivera, 34, refused to leave the vehicle, shooting Diller below within his stomach, just below his bulletproof vest. Reports later showed that Rivera had allegedly been arrested 21 times before the incident, and served a five-year prison term for drug-related crimes, the outlet reported.
As Trump attended Diller’s wake, for which he received an invitation, President Joe Biden met with former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton for a re-election fundraiser event. Biden offered his condolences to Diller’s family while speaking to Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams.