President Trump on Saturday participated in the honourable transfer of six service members killed in the first days of the war with Iran.
Mr Trump joined First Lady Melania Trump, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff for the transfer of Americans killed in action at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
fallen service members were identified as Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35; Sgt 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42; Sgt 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39; Sgt Declan J. Cody, 20; Major Jeffrey O’Brien, 45; and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54.
“I’m glad we showed our respect,” Mr Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One after the transfer. “It’s a tough situation… great people, great parents, wives, and families.”
The president said parents of service members are proud, calling the war going “incredibly” and “as good as it can be.”
When asked by a Washington Post reporter about the possibility that he would have to return to Dover for a more dignified transfer, Mr Trump said, “…I would hate to do that, but that’s part of the war, right?”
“Wouldn’t you say this is part of the war?” he asked the reporter. “It’s the sad part of war, the bad part of war.”
Six service members were killed during an unmanned aircraft system attack in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, on Sunday, March 1, the Defence Department said.
The 103rd Sustainment Command, based in Des Moines, Iowa, comprised all the members. The unit provides food, supplies and other logistics support for the army.
Shortly after landing in Dover, Mr Trump was greeted by officials, including Colonel Jamil Moses, commander of the 436th Airlift Wing, and Colonel Martha “Jenny” Sasnett, commander of Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations.
Earlier on Saturday, addressing Latin American leaders in Miami, Mr Trump called the deaths of the soldiers a “very sad situation” and said the troops were “coming home in a different way than they thought.”
“But they are outstanding heroes in our country, and we will keep it that way,” Mr Trump said.
Honourable transfer, a ritual that returns the remains of American service members killed in action, is considered one of the most solemn duties of any commander-in-chief. During his first term, Mr Trump called participating in the transfer “the hardest thing I’ve had to do” as president.
After the graceful transfer is complete, Mr Trump is set to return to Mar-a-Lago.
