February 23, 2026 | Rapid Response | Sonali Patel

President Trump honors Angel Families at the White House

Rapid Response

This morning, President Trump welcomed Angel Families to the White House for a remembrance ceremony to honor their loved ones whose lives were lost at the hands of criminal illegal aliens


President Trump and Republicans promised to never forget these Americans, and they are keeping that promise — officially making February 22nd National Angel Family Day.




Hear directly from the Angel families this morning:

  • Allyson Phillips, whose daughter, 22-year old Laken Riley, was killed: "If you've lived that nightmare that we have lived, you understand the importance of the job that [President Trump] is doing in securing our nation and fighting for our families.”
  • Steve Ronnebeck, whose 21-year-old son, Grant, was shot and killed while working at an Arizona convenience store: “Now, today, we are finally going to see that somebody's going to remember all of our loved ones."
  • Marie Vega, mother of former U.S. Marine & Border Patrol Agent Javier Vega, Jr. who was killed: “Without [President Trump], America, and the world, would not know the consequences of open borders."
  • Laura Wilkerson, whose son Joshua was tortured and killed: “[President Trump] never, ever, looked away from my pain...he's never missed a day of fighting for the American family."
  • Jody Jones, whose brother, Rocky, was shot and killed: "I'm sick and tired of hearing these [Democrat] politicians stand up on these podiums and say how sorry they are for seeing these criminal illegal aliens being 'ripped apart' from their families. What about us?"

President Trump and Republicans are giving Angel families hope and bringing back accountability after four years of being ignored by Democrats who allowed countless unvetted criminals into our country.