Trump opens up to families of victims at 'Angel Family Day' event: 'I suffer for the country'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump hosted families who have lost loved ones to crimes committed by undocumented immigrants and told them he suffers for the country as well.

The gathering took place in the East Room of the White House, where he signed a proclamation declaring February 22 as “Angel Family Day,” a national day of remembrance for what he called “Angel Families.” The date was selected to honor Laken Riley, a 22-year-old college student murdered by an undocumented migrant on February 22, 2024.

Trump empathizes with the families of victims

Standing before grieving relatives, President Donald Trump tied their losses to the 2020 election, which he said was “run by crooked people.” He suggested that former President Joe Biden’s victory had consequences measured in lives lost.

“Every one of your loved ones would be alive today, everyone in this room. I think every maybe there's one where could have sneaked through during our term, but I don't think so,” he said. He accused Democrats of being “professional cheaters” and insisted that his defeat resulted in the pain endured by the families in attendance.

At one point, Trump appeared to refer to his own ordeals.

“But we wouldn't be here right now. I'm just thinking as we're going through it because we've suffered through it together. I suffer for the country," he said. "I mean, it's the people I've gotten to know, the mothers and fathers, mostly mothers and fathers, husbands in some cases, wives in some cases, but mostly mothers and fathers, what they have to go through.”

He also took aim at the Biden administration’s border record, claiming that they allowed “25 million people...to come into our country totally unchecked, totally unvetted.” “They destroyed your lives,” he added.

Angel Families praise Trump’s immigration policies at White House event

Several family members were invited to speak, and many offered strong endorsements of Trump’s approach to immigration enforcement.

Steve Ronnebeck, whose son Grant was killed while working behind the counter of a convenience store in Arizona, spoke emotionally about his loss and his support for the president.

“Americans are not racist. We're not xenophobic because we want a safe America, and we want to put Americans first. This man [Trump] is not racist because he wants to put Americans first,” he said. “I love America. I love Donald Trump, I love my family, and by gosh, I love America,” he added before turning to Trump and calling him “the man.”

Among those present was Allyson Phillips, the mother of Laken Riley, whose death on February 22, 2024, marked the newly declared remembrance day. She had previously attended Trump’s State of the Union address last year and returned to the East Room for the ceremony.

“You are doing a thankless job that most people just wouldn't do, and I just can't thank you enough,” she said.

Also in attendance were Patty Morin, mother of Rachel Morin, who was killed while hiking in 2023, and Tammy Nobles, mother of Kayla Hamilton, who was murdered in 2022.

Trump said he was “defending American lives” and acting “for every angel family” through his policies.