DONALD TRUMP CALLS FOR RETURN TO 'LAW AND ORDER' AS HE ATTENDS MURDERED NYPD COP'S FUNERAL

Donald Trump, who has made crime a central theme of his third White House campaign, made an appearance at the funeral of a New York City police officer who was shot and killed while performing his duties.

A visitation for Officer Jonathan Diller is being held in the Massapequa suburb. The 31-year-old was shot and killed on Monday while conducting a traffic check.

The disgraced former President arrived in a convoy of black Chevrolets. He was dressed in a navy suit and red tie and appeared sombre as he approached, accompanied by some of his senior campaign advisers.

He shook hands with New York Police Department Commissioner Edward Caban and Nassau County police and government officials before entering the funeral home.

Speaking at the event, Trump called the suspect a "thug" and said, "They don’t learn because they don’t respect. This should never happen. Police are the greatest people we have."

He added: "The Diller family will never be the same and we have to stop it. This should never be allowed. Things like this should never happen. We have to get back to law and order. It's an honour to be here.

"Thank you all for being here. The Dillers are an incredible family and they are devastated. I just visited with a very beautiful wife that now doesn’t have her husband. We’ve gotta toughen it up we’ve gotta strengthen it up."

Parked nearby were two pickup trucks with pro-Trump decals and flags bearing his “Make America Great Again” slogan. Dozens of supporters wearing Trump paraphernalia stood nearby in the pouring rain.

Trump's visit coincides with Biden's earlier planned trip to New York for a fundraiser featuring Democratic former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. Trump has made crime a focus of his third White House campaign and accused President Joe Biden of lacking toughness.

Jonathan was shot below his bulletproof vest as he approached a car that was parked illegally in Queens, according to the police. The married man with a one-year-old boy, died after being taken to the hospital.

Trump's scheduled visit to Biden's fundraiser was juxtaposed with headlines by a Republican Party account on social media shortly after the former president's campaign confirmed he would attend the wake.

Trump has advocated for the immediate shooting of shoplifters, condemned crime in predominantly Democratic cities, and wants to shield police personnel from legal action for any wrongdoing.

However, in addition to vilifying local prosecutors, the FBI, and the Department of Justice, he has also become emboldened by the criminal proceedings he faces and the investigation of his first campaign's contacts with Russia during his presidency.

Additionally, he has supported people incarcerated for their involvement in the January 6, 2021, uprising at the US Capitol, during which a crowd of his enraged fans broke through police lines and assaulted and beat local and Capitol police officers.

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“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.

Earlier this month, while both men were campaigning in Georgia, the former president and his allies attacked Biden on issues of crime and illegal immigration, hoping to create a similar split screen with the president.

Trump spoke with the family of Laken Riley, the deceased nursing student, while he was in the state. Her death is attributed to an illegal immigrant from Venezuela who entered the United States.

On Tuesday, Trump shared news of Diller's death on social media, expressing gratitude to law enforcement and his condolences to Diller's family. In addition, he referred to the gunman as a "thug" and mentioned that Guy Rivera, Diller's accused shooter, had a history of many arrests, saying that he "NEVER should have been let back out on the streets."

Diller was the first police officer in New York City to be killed in the line of duty in the previous two years. Two NYC officers were shot dead in the most recent incident, and the day following the second funeral, Biden visited the department's headquarters and had a conversation with senior brass and officers.

In an effort to reduce gun violence and seize illegal firearms, Biden has promised that the federal government will collaborate more closely with law enforcement.

2024-03-28T18:07:37Z dg43tfdfdgfd