President Donald Trump traveled to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Wednesday to attend a dignified transfer of U.S. service members killed in the war in Iran.
“Heading to Dover Air Force Base to HONOR OUR HEROES!” Trump posted to his social media platform Wednesday morning.
President Donald Trump salutes as a US Army carry team carries the flag-draped transfer case containing the remains of 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, during a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, July 22, 2026.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
“We’re going to Dover, some of you are going with us, to honor our heroes. And they are indeed great heroes, actually,” Trump told reporters just before boarding Air Force One for the flight to Dover.
President Donald Trump salutes during a dignified transfer solemn event for US service members killed during operations in the Middle East, at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, July 22, 2026.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
The president said the dignified transfer ceremony is “one of the hardest things to do as a president but it has to be done.” He then proceeded to defend the war in Iran, claiming that “all” of the fallen soldiers had “said very strongly” that “we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”Â
Asked what he would say to the families of the fallen, Trump said he’d tell them they’re loved.
President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth salute as a U.S. Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, July 22, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del.
Matt Rourke/AP Photo
“All I’m going to say is, we love you. We love your child, and that’s what they are to them. They’re their children. There’s no games, no nothing. That’s their child. And all you can do is throw out your heart,” Trump said before boarding Air Force One.
Wednesday’s ceremony is the third dignified transfer Trump has attended since the start of the Iran war.
President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth salute as a U.S. Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, July 22, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Overnight, the Pentagon identified the third person believed to have been killed in action during Friday’s Iranian strike on a U.S. base in Jordan as Army Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York.
L-R: 1st Lt Tyler James Feehan, Pvt. Isabella Gonzales and Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, Sgt. Angel Rampersad.
US Army
Two other American soldiers died in the Iranian attack on the U.S. base: Pfc. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, and 1st Lt. Tyler Feehan, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii.
A fourth soldier, Army Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, died Sunday following the controlled detonation of a downed Iranian attack drone at Erbil Air Base in Iraq, the Army said.
Since the U.S. war in Iran began in late February, at least 18 soldiers have been killed and roughly 500 wounded, according to the Department of Defense.
Fighting has intensified after a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran reached in mid-June broke down. There has now been 11 consecutive nights of strikes.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
