At a solemn ceremony inside the White House, Donald Trump honored the family of Laken Riley, welcoming the police officer who arrested her killer to stand alongside them in remembrance.

“The American citizens must always come first,” President Trump said, framing the event as a commitment to victims and accountability. Addressing Riley’s family directly, the officer told them, “Your loss should never have happened,” a moment that drew visible emotion throughout the room.

Laken Riley’s mother thanked the president for keeping his promise to pursue justice. “You said from the beginning — literally the day after this happened — that you would not forget about Laken,” she said. “And you have not forgotten. You fought a fight that most people would not want to have to fight.”

The ceremony, broadcast by Fox News Channel, underscored the administration’s message on public safety and support for victims’ families. Officials emphasized that the remembrance was about honoring a life lost and reaffirming a duty to protect citizens.

As the event concluded, attendees described it as a quiet but powerful acknowledgment of grief, responsibility, and resolve — a reminder, the president said, that justice must remain centered on the people it serves.