Latest news with #MedalsofSacrifice
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
Wales Online
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
Donald Trump 'looks embarrassed' by woman's reaction at White House meeting
Donald Trump 'looks embarrassed' by woman's reaction at White House meeting A woman's non-response to Donald Trump during an event at the White House has been described as 'painful' to watch by social media users President Donald Trump was caught in an apparent awkward exchange in a viral video (Image: AP ) US President Donald Trump had an awkward encounter with a woman during an event at the White House. Trump was presenting the inaugural Medals of Sacrifice to the families of three Florida law enforcement officers who had died. These were given to Corporal Luis Paez Jr. , Deputy Sheriff Ralph 'Butch' Waller Jr., and Deputy Sheriff Ignacio 'Dan' Diaz. During the ceremony in the Oval Office, Alexandria Diaz, the daughter of Deputy Diaz, received her father's medal from the President. However, what caught the attention of many was Alexandria's reaction upon meeting Trump. Standing beside him with a stoic expression, she remained impassive as photographers snapped photos. Observers on social media were quick to notice her seemingly unimpressed demeanour. On X, user Jackie Singh shared a clip of the moment Trump handed Alexandria the medal, commenting: "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. Her dad was a law enforcement officer who died last year in the line of duty." The Mirror US reports in the video, Trump can be seen glancing at Alexandria's face as she holds up the medal, before turning back to the photographers. The X post has accumulated 2.7 million views, garnered 15,000 likes, and generated over 360 comments. Article continues below A user offered their views, saying: "She really doesn't seem all that impressed." For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Another user chimed in, remarking: "He (Trump) can't believe she won't even look at him." A third individual expressed admiration stating: "She's not a phony. Good for her! Thank goodness he actually got to meet one human who didn't pretend to like him in front of cameras. I'm sorry for her loss." A fourth commenter weighed in, noting: "Great to see him looking embarrassed in front of all. Feel so bad for this woman being put through this." A fifth observer astutely pointed out: "The poor girl looks like she's in a hostage video. This must have been so painful for her." Yet another user didn't mince words, bluntly stating: "He's so gross. He can't just leave her be. He keeps touching her, whispering to her, prodding her to speak. I feel for her. Everything has to be about him." Notable attendees at the event included Congressmen Brian Mast and Byron Donalds of Florida, accompanied by Eric and Lara Trump. The gathering was held to pay tribute to the three law enforcement officers tragically killed in November 2024. They lost their lives when a driver struck them while they were working on a broken-down motorcycle on the side of the road, as reported by Scripps News. The publication reports, Trump reflected on the gravity of the incident, stating: "This was a terrible tragedy. It was, it shook the entire Palm Beach community like very, very few events I've ever seen." Article continues below
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.
Boston Globe
21-05-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Trump drafts America's business titans to burnish his image at home and abroad
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up But putting in time with the U.S. president has not fully insulated companies such as Apple, Amazon, Walmart and others from Trump's anger. It's a sign that the public commitments they make to create U.S. jobs may be doing more to burnish the president's image than to protect their own profitability. Advertisement In private, CEOs and executives on Trump's trip marveled at how they came to be unofficial members of the president's traveling party, their private jets hopscotching across the Gulf as Trump visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. They said they had little choice but to get close to Trump, especially as he wields his tariff powers. Advertisement 'I'm just thinking we have a president of the United States doing the selling,' Trump said in Abu Dhabi, standing alongside the CEO of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Tomislav Mihaljevic, and working in a dig at his presidential predecessor, Joe Biden. 'You think Biden would be doing it? I don't think so. But I think it's so important. I have to be a cheerleader for our country.' The host countries and the White House pulled together business conferences in a matter of weeks to give Trump a stage to show off his dealmaking on the trip. Business leaders signed partnership agreements and touted mutual investments almost as a performance for Trump and the region's powerful ruling elites, while using the opportunity to network and share their mutual bemusement that this was now part of their job portfolio. Trump has demonstrated that he steers business to those who ingratiate themselves to him — look no further than his promotion of Elon Musk's Tesla — and punishes those who don't, like Amazon during Trump's first term and law firms, universities and a growing list of institutions in his second. 'He wants the vanity of people coming in to kiss his ring,' said Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, CEO of Yale University's Chief Executive Leadership Institute. He said the behavior by CEOs, while obsequious, often resulted in better treatment and free publicity from the government. It's not just U.S. business people paying heed. On Monday, a French executive turned up in the Oval Office with Trump. The president thanked Bernard Arnault's French luxury company LVMH for the 'Medals of Sacrifice' made by its subsidiary, Tiffany & Co., as Trump presented them to the families of three sheriff's deputies from Palm Beach County, Florida, who were killed in the line of duty. Advertisement LVMH stock has fallen this year as tariffs threaten a business that sells everything from designer handbags to champagne. But Trump had only the fondest of praise as he told Arnault's son, Alexandre, who was representing the company: 'Thank you very much, Alexandre. I appreciate that you came. He came all the way from France.' It's not always clear how to best engage Trump Compared to the Biden administration, CEOs and executives at America's most powerful companies have felt obligated to stay in frequent contact with Trump's team. But the contact isn't a guarantee of meaningful influence with the president. Executives at multiple companies, insisting on anonymity to describe private interactions, said it wasn't always clear who in Trump's orbit could best relay their views on tariffs, regulations and taxes to the president. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has emerged as their preferred go-between, but that hasn't completely immunized the companies from attacks by Trump. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon had a previously scheduled call on Saturday with Bessent, only to separately become the target of Trump's ire in a social media post in which the president said America's largest retailer should 'eat' the cost of his tariffs. Trump in April called Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who had attended his inaugural, after a report that the online outlet was considering displaying on product listings the impact of Trump's tariffs on prices. Amazon had explored the possibility for its Amazon Haul service, which competes against China-founded discounters Temu and Shein, but had chosen not to do so. Advertisement The heads of General Motors, Ford and Stellantis met with Trump to outline how his tariffs would disrupt automaking. Trump gave them some reprieves on domestic vehicles with foreign parts not covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, but he still has a 25% tax on imported steel and aluminum. The president portrayed his tariff changes last April as a temporary bridge so that automakers would increase production domestically. 'We just wanted to help them during this little transition, short term,' Trump said at the time. 'We didn't want to penalize them. ' CEOs are still figuring out how to influence Trump Trump repeatedly praised Apple after its $500 billion commitment for investments in the United States. But the company also plans to shift more iPhone production to India in response to the China tariffs — and that has frustrated Trump. Speaking in Qatar, Trump recalled a conversation with Apple CEO Tim Cook: 'I said to him: 'My friend, I treated you very good. You're coming here with $500 billion, but now I hear you're building all over India. I don't want you building in India.'' By contrast, JP Morgan Chase CEO and Chairman Jamie Dimon ended up influencing Trump's tariff policies by going on TV. The banker on April 9 was interviewed on Fox Business Network's 'Mornings with Maria' as financial markets were panicking because of Trump's tariffs. Dimon said markets would improve if Trump could negotiate trade agreements. 'Take a deep breath,' Dimon said. 'Negotiate some trade deals. That's the best thing they can do.' His statements resonated with Trump, who pulled back his tariffs later that day to a baseline 10% so that negotiations could occur for 90 days. Trump later recounted, 'I watched Jamie Dimon on Maria Bartiromo's show this morning, and he was very good.' Advertisement
