‘Toughest thing I’ve ever done’: Donald Trump pays tribute to four US soldiers killed in Middle East
President of the United States Donald Trump Four U.S. service members killed in the Middle East were honored Wednesday and participated in a solemn transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware as their remains were flown back to the United States.Trump saluted as four flag-draped transfer boxes were shipped off a military aircraft during the ceremony, which was also attended by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Kaine and members of Congress.Trump later spoke at an event in Georgia, calling the ceremony “the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”“I’ve been there many times before. Especially this is a very sad thing,” he said.Earlier in the day, Trump said his message to grieving families was simple: “We love you. We love your children.”The remains include two U.S. Army soldiers killed in Iranian missile and drone strikes in Jordan, a soldier believed to have been killed in the same attack that was previously listed as missing, and another killed by an Iranian drone blast in Iraq.The Pentagon identified the soldiers killed in Jordan as Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Hawaii, and Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Texas. The soldier believed to have been killed in the same attack was identified as Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of New York. The fourth service member, Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of North Carolina, was killed in Iraq.Trump said Feehan’s family flew with him on Air Force One to Georgia. In his speech, he recalled the young officer as a “flawless” man who “went all the way – he was going to be a general”.Trump told Feehan’s parents: “Taylor’s memory will always be with us, and I just want to thank you. It’s an honor to have you here today.”Trump has repeatedly linked the soldiers’ deaths to the current conflict with Iran.“Those great people, those great patriots are fighting so that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he said earlier this week, adding that the U.S. attack on Iran was “in honor” of fallen soldiers.On Monday, Trump also vowed to retaliate for American casualties, saying: “Every time Iran kills an American soldier, they pay the price for that killing many times over!”According to the U.S. government, 18 U.S. service members have been killed since the conflict began on February 28.Trump also said on Tuesday that while most of the Iranian firepower targeting U.S. positions in Jordan had been intercepted, “they did miss something in Jordan.” He added, “Unfortunately, if we had other operators, you know, this wouldn’t be happening… We have other people doing the job – and sometimes it doesn’t work out that well.”The president did not elaborate on whom he was referring to.The Pentagon said Feehan would be posthumously promoted to captain and awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Action Ribbon. Gonzalez, Rampersad and Swinton also served in the Air Defense Force, and Swinton would also receive the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge and be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.
