REPORT: Biden Canceled Keynote Speech Honoring Fallen Officers At The Last Minute

On Monday, President Joe Biden canceled his planned speech at the National Fraternal Order of Police’s National Peace Officers Memorial Service, which commemorates our law enforcement officers, according to Fox News. He decided to attend his granddaughter’s graduation instead.

Originally scheduled as the kickoff event for National Police Week, Biden’s keynote address was unexpectedly called off, leaving Attorney General Merrick Garland to fill in. The event program had already listed Biden as the speaker. In his absence, Secretary of State Antony Blinken read a letter from the president.

Rather than honoring fallen police officers, Biden opted to attend his granddaughter’s graduation ceremony at the University of Pennsylvania.

Every year on May 15th, National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day, a memorial service is held to honor law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. This tradition began in 1982, following a proclamation by President John F. Kennedy in 1962. The first service was organized by the Auxiliary of the Fraternal Order of Police, with Assistant U.S. Attorney General Kenneth Starr as the keynote speaker.

Since then, thousands of police officers, survivors, families, and friends gather on the lawn of the United States Capitol to pay tribute to fallen heroes. The Auxiliary committee works tirelessly throughout the year to plan and ensure the participation of surviving family members in this meaningful service of remembrance.

Biden did, however, release a video on Monday, where he said, “Let’s be very clear. The answer is not to defund the police. It is to provide you with the resources and training to be the partners and protectors of the communities that are in need.”