President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance paid tribute to law enforcement police officers killed in action during a Thursday memorial service at the Capitol.
The event, part of a host of events honoring National Police Week, featured video remarks from the president, who is wrapping up a Middle Eastern tour this week.
“Every day, countless thousands of courageous officers, sheriffs, deputies, troopers, and federal agents risk their lives to protect our communities and keep America safe,” Trump said. “We especially honor those who have made the supreme sacrifice in defense of our laws. Last year, 147 officers gave their lives in the line of duty.”
Trump also touted the executive order he signed on his first day in office, directing the Justice Department to seek the death penalty for anyone accused of murdering a police officer.
“It was my wonderful honor to do it,” Trump said of the executive order. “I want every law enforcement officer across the country to know that you have a president who will always have your back.”
In his remarks to the crowd gathered at the Capitol, Vance recognized two officers who were killed in the line of duty last year and a third who was killed in an alleged revenge incident earlier this month.
Harris County, Texas, Deputy Sheriff Fernando Esqueda was killed in July 2024 during an ambush attack as he was investigating a vehicle wanted in connection with an aggravated assault. St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officer David Lee was killed in September 2024 after responding to a car crash on Interstate 70 and being hit by a driver who lost control of their Kia Sorento.
“Today we mourn the actual officers, the individual men and women who have been taken from us far too soon,” Vance said. “We mourn officers like David Lee, an 18-year veteran of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.”
“He died as he lived, serving others tirelessly without fail,” Vance continued.
Esqueda’s funeral “brought over 1,000 community members” who honored the late officer’s legacy, the vice president also said.
Vance then mentioned the death of Hamilton County, Ohio, Deputy Sheriff Larry Henderson, who was allegedly killed by Rodney Hinton Jr. in retaliation for the death of his son, Ryan Hinton, who was killed by Cincinnati police.
“The story hits especially close to home, because I am, of course, a person who calls Cincinnati my home,” Vance said. “Deputy Henderson was an exemplary public servant to southwestern Ohio, the part of the country that made me who I am.”
VANCE TOUTS WHITE HOUSE SUPPORT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT DURING NATIONAL POLICE WEEK
The vice president implicitly slammed Democrats over their previous support of the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 and the subsequent “defund the Police” slogan. In contrast, Vance promised that under the Trump administration, unequivocal support of law enforcement would not waver.
“I want to be clear about one last thing: The Trump administration has zero tolerance for anyone who threatens to defund, abolish, or otherwise diminish our law enforcement heroes,” Vance said as the crowd clapped in support.