‘Worst nightmare’: Awkward Trump meeting goes viral
The daughter of an American police officer killed on duty has spoken out as her extremely awkward and public meeting with US President Donald Trump goes viral.
Footage of Trump presenting a stony-faced Alexandria Diaz with a Medal of Sacrifice at the White House on Monday (US time) is circulating widely.
Trump appears visibly uncomfortable as the unenthusiastic Diaz accepts the medal on behalf of her father, Palm Beach Deputy Sheriff Ignacio “Dan” Diaz.
He and two colleagues, Sheriff’s Office Corporal Luis Paez and and Deputy Sheriff Ralph “Butch” Waller, died after being struck by a car in the Florida city last November.
The footage shows Trump looking visibly confused as he casts side glances at Diaz. He tries to put his arm around her and appears to tell her she is “beautiful”.
“I’m very proud of you,” he says.
“Thank you,” she replies.
The unmoved Diaz later shared her response in a follow-up video to TikTok.
“This is actually my worst nightmare to go viral, become a meme,” she said.
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“I literally just landed back home and I got a text from my friend that was like ‘you’re going viral’ and I was like ‘God no’.”
Diaz said she wasn’t a Republican or a police officer and went to the White House only to support her father.
“It was a huge news story,” Diaz said.
“That’s also why Trump was so involved, because it was in Palm Beach.”
She finished her statement with: “Free Palestine”.
Social media users are mostly impressed with Diaz’s composure.
“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,” one person wrote on X.
A TikToker said their “favourite part is that he keeps looking at her completely baffled that she’s not overjoyed to be in his presence lmao”.
“He’s very unnerved by her demeanour, if not frankly confused. Well done,” wrote another.
From another user: “She’s my idol.”
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Trump announces Golden Dome missile defence
Meanwhile, Trump says he has selected a design for America’s Golden Dome missile defence shield and named a Space Force general to head the ambitious program aimed at blocking threats from China and Russia.
Trump said on Tuesday (US time) that US Space Force General Michael Guetlein would be the lead program manager for what the President said would be a $US175 billion ($273 billion) project.
Golden Dome will “protect our homeland”, Trump said from the Oval Office and added that Canada had said it wanted to be part of it.
The office of Prime Minister Mark Carney was not immediately available for comment.
Ordered by Trump in January, Golden Dome aims to create a network of satellites to detect, track and potentially intercept incoming missiles.
The shield could deploy hundreds of satellites for missile detection and tracking.
It will take years to implement as the program faces both political scrutiny and funding uncertainty.
Democratic lawmakers have voiced concern about the procurement process and the involvement of Trump ally Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
The Golden Dome idea was inspired by Israel’s land-based Iron Dome defence shield that protects it from missiles and rockets.
Trump’s Golden Dome is much more extensive. It includes a massive array of surveillance satellites and a fleet of attacking satellites that would shoot down offensive missiles soon after lift-off.
Tuesday’s announcement kicked off the Pentagon’s effort to test and ultimately buy the missiles, systems, sensors and satellites that will make up the Golden Dome.
Trump, who said the project would be completed by the end of his term in January 2029, said Alaska will be a big part of the program. He said Florida, Georgia and Indiana would also benefit from the project.
However, its funding remains uncertain.
Republican lawmakers have proposed a $US25 billion ($A39 billion) initial investment for Golden Dome as part of a broader $US150 billion military package. The funding is tied to a contentious reconciliation bill that faces significant hurdles in Congress.
“Unless reconciliation passes, the funds for Golden Dome may not materialise,” an industry executive said.
“This puts the entire project timeline in jeopardy.”
