Laken Riley honored at White House as Trump designates 'Angel Family Day' for laken riley and other families
President Donald Trump held an "angel families" remembrance ceremony at the White House on Monday, an event meant to recognize laken riley and families like hers. The president also signed a proclamation designating "Angel Family Day, " a move tied to high-profile criminal cases that have become central to the immigration debate.
Proclamation, timing and White House notices
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a social media post on Sunday night that Trump was signing a proclamation designating "Angel Family Day. " The designation named Feb. 22 as "Angel Family Day, " and the event at the White House was billed as a remembrance for families whose relatives were killed by people who entered the country illegally. Coverage of the event included a separate banner noting President Donald Trump's 2026 State of the Union address.
Details of the Laken Riley case
Laken Riley was a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was killed in February 2024 while out jogging. Jose Antonio Ibarra, described as a Venezuelan man, is now serving a life term for her murder. Ibarra had been arrested for illegally entering the U. S. and was released to pursue his case in immigration court.
Families present and Rachel Morin among attendees
The White House event brought together multiple families; Trump was scheduled to hold the event with the families of Laken Riley and Rachel Morin, among others. The designation and ceremony were explicitly framed to honor relatives of people killed by someone who was illegally in the U. S.
Remarks from Riley's mother and the memorial tone
Allyson Phillips, the mother of Riley, thanked Trump for the work he has done to honor her daughter and others killed by people in the U. S. illegally. Phillips said public perception of the president is different from the man she has come to know and praised his actions: "You have fought a fight that most people wouldn't want to have to fight, " she said. "There are just not enough words to say, because if you've lived the nightmare that we have lived you understand the importance of the job he is doing. "
Phillips recalled her daughter in personal terms, calling Riley "the most responsible, hardworking, kind, selfless, beautiful Christian, " and adding: "She didn't make bad choices. She was just a good girl. She just wanted to go for a run that morning. " The text of coverage also noted that "there is no way Trump or anyone can know that, " juxtaposing the family's testimony with an editorial observation.
Policy framing, the Riley bill and election assertions
Riley's case became a flashpoint in the debate over immigration, and the first bill Trump signed into law in his second term was named for Riley. The broader invocation of the families at the White House tied into the administration's immigration record; the Republican president has received high marks in his second term for practically cutting off the flow of illegal immigration into the U. S. from Mexico, and he has said he would have done the same earlier had he not lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden.
Trump used the event to repeat claims that he only lost the 2020 election because it was rigged. The coverage states there is no evidence to support those allegations, noting that Trump lost dozens of court challenges, his own attorney general found no evidence of widespread fraud, and reviews, audits and recounts in the battleground states where he contested his loss all affirmed Biden's victory. Trump described the gathering as a "truly solemn occasion. "
Presentation and reporting notes
The event and its coverage were presented with exclusive coverage credits to Lisa Desjardins and the politics team, and the White House messaging emphasized honoring families who lost relatives to crimes committed by people who entered the country illegally. The designation of Feb. 22 as "Angel Family Day" and the presence of the Riley and Morin families were central details of the remembrance.
