CNN’s Berman and Harlow Moved By Biden Picking Up Toy for Slain Officer’s Daughter: ‘So Heartbreaking and Touching’
CNN anchors John Berman and Poppy Harlow were moved by the moment in which President Joe Biden picked up a toy and handed it back to Abigail Evans, daughter of slain Capitol Police Officer William “Billy” Evans, after she dropped it during a memorial ceremony for her dad.
On Wednesday morning’s edition of New Day, Berman and Harlow played part of President Biden’s heartfelt speech at the memorial, then highlighted a moment that occurred during Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s remarks minutes earlier.
As Pelosi spoke, Abigail Evans dropped a toy version of the Capitol Dome, and the president bent down to pick it up, handed it back to her, and appeared to offer some words of comfort.
“Just heartbreaking. Such a genuine moment of grief, and also consolation, all at the same time. That’s the president of the United States picking up the toy for the little girl,” Berman said.
“It’s striking how many moments already in his presidency president Biden has had to be the consoler in chief,” Harlow observed.
Berman added that “This has been part of Joe Biden’s life for some time. It’s something that is difficult for him clearly, but he knows he can share it with other people and does.”
The moment drew a lot of attention from other media outlets across the country as well.
President Biden picks up a toy model of the Capitol dropped by Officer Evans’ daughter while Nancy Pelosi was speaking – and gives it back to her pic.twitter.com/4Q49rDXsPD
— Chris Jansing (@ChrisJansing) April 13, 2021
OK, Joe Biden, your picking up that little girl’s toy got me.
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) April 13, 2021
Watch: President Biden got out of his seat to pick up a toy that fallen Officer William Evans’ daughter dropped during a memorial service at the Capitol https://t.co/HAviiIGjZR #KHOU11
— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) April 14, 2021
Pres. Biden got out of his seat to pick up a toy that fallen Capitol Police Officer William Evans’ daughter dropped during a memorial service.
Officer Evans is lying in honor inside the Rotunda following an attack at the complex earlier this month. https://t.co/8wdKJ6j9N4 pic.twitter.com/Vjuditn4bb
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) April 13, 2021
President Biden picks up a toy Capitol dome for Abigail Evans, 7, the daughter of US Capitol Police Officer William Evans, as her father’s remains lie in honor in the US Capitol Rotunda.
? Tom Williams / AFP pic.twitter.com/S3QXUzauy2— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 13, 2021
President Biden briefly interrupted a memorial for slain Officer William “Billy” Evans at the Capitol Rotunda … to pick up a dropped toy Capitol for the cop’s 7-year-old daughter, Abigail Evans.
Biden was sitting several feet away from Evans’ family.https://t.co/j9zjjGJc0X
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) April 13, 2021
President Biden got out of his seat to pick up a toy that fallen Officer William Evans’ daughter dropped during a memorial service on Tuesday (4/13). The body of Officer Evans is lying in honor inside the Capitol. He died in attack outside the Capitol earlier this month. pic.twitter.com/2vqkQ74DNn
— KCTV5 News (@KCTV5) April 13, 2021
Feet away from Biden, in the front row, Evans’s son, Logan, wore a police cap while clutching a teddy bear. His daughter, Abigail, fiddled with a miniature Capitol souvenir toy.
Scenes from today’s ceremony honoring Officer Billy Evans, w/ @dugganwapo https://t.co/KO5UHqCaOg
— Meagan Flynn (@Meagan_Flynn) April 13, 2021
WATCH: Biden hands toy back to child at service for fallen Capitol officer https://t.co/wOlND3CKBo pic.twitter.com/81xkdTIHAr
— The Hill (@thehill) April 14, 2021
Watch above via CNN.
