Latest news with #MedalofSacrifice
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lara Trump interviews families of Florida deputies killed in crash in Fox News episode
Lost, but not forgotten: Six months after the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office lost three of their own, their memory lives on, thanks, in part, to the Trump family. On Nov. 21, 2024, three road-patrol officers — Cpl. Luis Paez and Deputies Ralph "Butch" Waller and Ignacio "Dan" Diaz — were killed in a crash along Southern Boulevard west of Wellington, Florida. An SUV trying to avoid hitting another vehicle overcorrected in traffic, driving onto the side of the road and hitting the officers as they stood waiting for help in restarting a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office motorcycle. Paez and Waller died at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach within hours of the crash. Diaz died there four days later. All three men were members of the sheriff's motorcycle patrol team. President Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis, dignitaries, law enforcement officers and thousands of others attended a memorial service honoring Paez, Waller and Diaz on Dec. 3, 2024. Maps show Trump's private club, Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach — nicknamed the Southern White House or Winter White House because of the amount of time he has spent there during his administration — is about 32 miles from the site of the fatal traffic crash. Six months later, Paez, Waller and Diaz were posthumously awarded the first-ever Medals of Sacrifice, intended to recognize officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. The families traveled to Washington, D.C., to accept them. On May 19, during "police week," Trump presented Alexandria Diaz, daughter of Palm Beach County sheriff's deputy Ignacio 'Dan' Diaz, with the Medal of Sacrifice during an Oval Office ceremony. The awkward moment with Trump and the fallen deputy's daughter, as it was dubbed online, went viral on social. Eric Trump, son of Donald Trump, and his wife, Fox News host Lara Trump, also attended the Medals of Sacrifice ceremony. On May 24, an episode of Lara Trump's show, "My View with Lara Trump," spotlights Paez, Waller and Diaz and their extensive career as first responders. Lara Trump interviews Rep. Brian Mast (R-Florida) and the family members of the late Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office deputies. In the episode, Mast explains the idea behind the Medals of Sacrifice: "There's nothing like the Medal of Honor that goes from the president directly to the law enforcement that have given their lives, given the last breath in their lungs or the last beat of their heart." Mast, who represents St. Lucie County and Martin County of the Treasure Coast, said Donald Trump told him to "get it done, get that done." Lara Trump sat down with Cameron Paez and Denise Waller for the May 24 episode, and both shared their feelings about the medals. "It's everything. I mean, the first people that get this medal, we get invited to the Oval Office. It's an honor. I still can't believe it. To have us out here," Cameron Paez says in the interview. Denise Waller agreed: "Absolutely, huge honor. Very touching that he's honored our three guys. And this was police week here in (Washington) D.C. And I met a lot of people who are in the same place I am. And it just made me feel really good to know that moving forward, every single one of them, every single one will be recognized that way." "My View with Lara Trump," which made its debut in February 2025, airs at 9 p.m. ET Saturdays on Fox News. Contributing: Hannah Phillips, Julius Whigham and James Coleman of the Palm Beach Post Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Lara Trump films Fox News episode about 3 fallen deputies from Florida
NDTV
22-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
US Woman Whose Cop Father Died On Duty Goes Viral At Donald Trump Event: "Worst Nightmare"
Alexandria Diaz, daughter of a US police officer killed in a traffic crash last year, has gone viral after attending a ceremony hosted by former President Donald Trump. The event, held in Florida, honoured three fallen law enforcement officers, including Diaz's father, Deputy Ignacio "Dan" Diaz of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. Ms Diaz received a Medal of Sacrifice on behalf of her late father. However, it was her neutral expression during the moment with Trump that caught the internet's attention. A clip from the event circulated widely on social media, with users commenting on her body language. One user wrote, "She did NOT want to be there." She did NOT want to be there. 🤣 — Winter Politics (@winterpolitics1) May 20, 2025 Reacting to the viral video, Diaz posted a response on TikTok, calling the experience her "worst nightmare." "I literally just landed back home, and I got a text from my friend saying, 'You're going viral.' I was like, 'God no,'" she said. Oh but wait there's more 🙃👑🔥 — Jessica Knapik ✨ (@JessicaKnapik) May 20, 2025 Clarifying her stance, she added, "I'm not a cop, not a Republican. I was there to receive the medal because my dad died in the line of duty along with two other officers. It was a huge story in Palm Beach, which is why Trump got involved." She ended her message with "Free Palestine," a statement that sparked further conversation online. Many users came to her support, pointing out that her somber expression was understandable given the context of the ceremony.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Fort Lauderdale police officer arrested, accused of attacking pregnant girlfriend
A Fort Lauderdale police officer was arrested Saturday on charges of attacking his pregnant girlfriend, then asking her to 'negate everything' when he received a suspension over the assault, according to a probable cause affidavit. Fort Lauderdale Police arrested Officer Timothy Skaggs, 39, on the following charges: one count of aggravated battery on a pregnant victim, one count of false imprisonment, two counts of battery, two counts of tampering with a witness, and two counts of robbery by sudden snatching. He is on administrative leave with pay 'pending formal charges filed by the State Attorney's Office,' according to Fort Lauderdale Police Chief Bill Schultz. Skaggs had arrived at the Fort Lauderdale apartment he shared with his girlfriend of two years on Friday, the night before his arrest, where she confronted him about him continuing to have a relationship with his wife and told him she wanted to end things, according to the affidavit. When he told her he had signed divorce papers, she told him he was lying, then threatened to call his wife. He then grabbed the phone from her and pushed her down on the bed, according to the affidavit, refusing to give it back when she asked for it. At one point, he pinned her down and used her own fist to hit her face three times. When she screamed for him to get off, he put his hands over her mouth. Later, he grabbed her neck with both hands, enough to hurt her but not to block her airways, she told police. The woman's two young children were also home at the time. When she asked her daughter for the girl's phone, since Skaggs had taken hers, he also took her daughter's phone from her, according to the affidavit. At one point, when she tried to leave, he pulled her back inside by her shirt. Finally, she managed to ask her son to call the police. Skaggs had his Fort Lauderdale Police uniform on and 'was on duty,' his girlfriend said. He had left in his police cruiser by the time officers arrived at the home. That night, the girlfriend had also informed Skaggs that she was several weeks' pregnant, according to the affidavit. One killed, two hospitalized in wrong-way crash on Sawgrass Expressway Woman killed in early morning shooting near Airbnb rental in Fort Lauderdale Boca Raton High senior killed in I-95 crash hours after graduation ceremony Trump awards 'Medal of Sacrifice' to Palm Beach County deputies killed in crash DeSantis signs law that restricts when authorities can stop boaters The girlfriend did not have any visible injuries from the attack, though she told police that it was not the first time Skaggs had attacked her. She said that he had beat and strangled her in the recent past and that she had pictures of her bruises. She said she wanted to prosecute. Detectives interviewed the girlfriend's daughter, who said she heard her mother screaming for the phone and that it was not the first time 'this type of incident' had occurred, according to the affidavit. The next morning, Skaggs went into Fort Lauderdale Police headquarters to give a statement, in which he said he 'did not know why he was here' besides having been told to go in by his chain of command, according to the afifdavit. When informed about his girlfriend's allegations, he denied ever attacking her and said that she had hit him three times, rather than the other way around. He had no bruises or marks on his face, but said that 'he is 6'3 and he would not have any bruises to his face,' the affidavit states. Later, police returned to the apartment to help the woman collect her belongings, at which point she received several calls from a number with no caller ID. When she picked up and placed the call on speaker, the officer who was with her recognized Skaggs' voice. 'Call them now. I'm begging you, call them now,' Skaggs had said. 'I'm on a 180-day suspension. Negate everything. Negate everything. Say you were drinking. I don't know but call them now,' according to the affidavit. On Monday, two days after the arrest, Fort Lauderdale Police also filed a petition for a risk protection order against Skaggs. 'The alleged behavior will not be tolerated and is not representative of the men and women of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department,' Chief Schultz said in a statement. 'Despite this incident, we will continue to provide our community with a high level of service, which aligns with our values, policies and procedures.' This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Worst nightmare': Trump's awkward medal moment with daughter of fallen PBSO deputy goes viral
The daughter of a fallen Palm Beach County sheriff's deputy went viral after an icy interaction with President Donald Trump at the White House. Trump presented Alexandria Diaz, daughter of Palm Beach County sheriff's deputy Ignacio 'Dan' Diaz, with the Medal of Sacrifice during an Oval Office ceremony on May 19. Diaz was one of three officers struck and killed by an SUV while assisting with a roadside breakdown west of Wellington in November. Alexandria, 24, stood stone-faced as Trump handed her the medal and avoided eye contact as he appeared to try to engage her. Trump glanced at Alexandria as she displayed the medal to photographers. If he expected some form of acknowledgment or warmth, he got none. Alexandria did not immediately return a request for comment. The clip amassed more than 3 million views and been widely shared under the caption: 'Trump looks confused, shocked, and embarrassed about why this woman accepting a medal on her father's behalf refused to worship the ground he walks.' 'He can't believe she won't even look at him,' one viewer posted. 'She's not a phony. Good for her,' said another. A third wrote: 'The poor girl looks like she's in a hostage video.' Alexandria addressed the moment in a TikTok video. 'This is actually my worst nightmare, to go viral, become a meme, whatever," she said. "I literally just landed back home and got a text from my friend that was like, 'You're going viral.' And I was like, 'God, no.' ' Alexandria said she is "not a cop" and "not a Republican." She ended the brief video by saying "Free Palestine." The ceremony honored Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies Diaz and Ralph 'Butch' Waller Jr. and Cpl. Luis Paez Jr. They were posthumously awarded the first-ever Medals of Sacrifice, intended to recognize officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. Paez, 58, was an avid photographer on the brink of retirement. Waller, 54, was an outdoorsman once honored by his captain for his outstanding work ethic. Diaz, 51, helped to convict a driver blamed for one of the deadliest crashes in Riviera Beach's history. All three belonged to PBSO's traffic division. Between them, the men had a combined 75 years of experience at the sheriff's office. Each was sent airborne when an SUV veered off Southern Boulevard and hit them where they stood, preparing to jumpstart a department-issued motorcycle. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. "My dad treated every day like it was his last," Alexandria said during a memorial service for the three men. "He loved getting on that bike every day. Coincidentally, this was his favorite time of year because it wasn't hot. He loved getting on the motorcycle in these days." Hannah Phillips is a journalist covering public safety and criminal justice at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at hphillips@ This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump's awkward medal moment with daughter of fallen PBSO deputy goes viral
Newsweek
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
'Worst Nightmare': Woman Responds After Trump Meeting Goes Viral
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Alexandria Diaz, the daughter of an American police officer killed in the line of duty, has spoken out after a clip of her meeting with President Donald Trump went viral online, saying that this is her "worst nightmare." Newsweek reached out to Diaz via social media and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) via email for comment outside of regular working hours. The Context Alexandria Diaz is the daughter of the late Deputy Ignacio "Dan" Diaz, who served as a police officer in the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. Deputy Diaz was killed in a traffic crash in November of 2025 which also claimed the lives of Corporal Luis Paez and Deputy Sheriff Ralph "Butch" Waller. He had served for more than a decade with the police and was described as a "hero," who had "dedicated his life to serving and protecting Palm Beach County," by the sheriff's office in a statement issued after his death. President Donald Trump presents a Medal of Sacrifice to Alexandria Diaz, center, honoring her late father Deputy Sheriff Ignacio "Dan" Diaz, at the White House on May 19, 2025. President Donald Trump presents a Medal of Sacrifice to Alexandria Diaz, center, honoring her late father Deputy Sheriff Ignacio "Dan" Diaz, at the White House on May 19, 2025. AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta What To Know On Monday, Trump, along with Florida Representative Brian Mast, held a ceremony to honor the three fallen law enforcement officers. The families were presented with inaugural Medals of Sacrifice. Alexandria Diaz attended the ceremony and received the medal on behalf of her late father, and footage of this moment quickly went viral online. Her neutral facial expression resonated widely with social media users. Multiple accounts on social media have shared the moment. The account Winter Politics on X shared a clip of the moment with the caption "She did NOT want to be there." As of this writing, the clip has been viewed over 580,000 times. In response, Diaz shared a video on TikTok, which has been viewed 445,000 times as of reporting. "This is actually my worst nightmare, to go viral, become a meme, whatever," she said. "I literally just landed back home, and I got a text from my friend who was like, 'You're going vial,' and I was like 'God no.'" She then adds, "I'm not a cop, not a Republican." "I was there, I received that medal because my dad died in the line of duty along with two other officers alongside him last year." She notes that this was a "huge news story" and that Trump was so involved because it was in Palm Beach, which is where his Mar-a-Lago resort is. Diaz ended her message by saying, "Free Palestine." Many social media users were delighted with Diaz's appearance at the event and her response. Others have highlighted that this was a sad occasion, and it makes sense that she had a somber expression. What People Are Saying TikTok user @Emilyw4222, responding to Diaz's video: "You are such an incredible woman. I'm sorry that it's your worst nightmare. But, I hope that you know you did something tonight that like NO ONE in the world has done. It's amazing and you deserve everything. Your father is so proud of you." TikTok user @Kay777Ray: "Absolute queen energy. The way you stood your ground made him visibly uncomfortable!! Iconic doesn't even begin to cover it. Thank you for using your voice with power and purpose." TikTok user Emmanuel Bagirov: "Became an icon overnight." X user @LaPrensaPirata, responding to @WinterPolitics's post: "Considering she is there because her father was killed in the line of duty, yeah no s*** she didn't want to be there." What Happens Next Mast introduced the Medal of Sacrifice Act, which authorizes the president to present an official medal to officers and first responders killed in the line of duty.
