President Donald Trump on Wednesday attended the dignified transfer of the remains of four service members killed in Iranian attacks this month after hostilities ramped up following the collapse of the ceasefire.Subscribe to read this story ad-freeGet unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The four service members being flown from the Middle East to Dover Air Force Base were 28-year-old Angel S.Rampersad of New York, 30-year-old Michael Emmanuel Swinton of North Carolina, 25-year-old Tyler James Feehan of Hawaii and 19-year-old Isabella Gonzales of Texas.Dignified transfers are some of the most solemn occasions for presidents, who often attend to pay respects to troops killed in conflicts overseen by themselves as commander in chief.
Trump has attended two prior dignified transfers since the war began in February, but this is his first since he declared on July 8 that the ceasefire was over.President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth salute as members of a U.S.Army carry team move a transfer case Wednesday.Kevin Dietsch / Getty ImagesThe event marked the latest impact of the war, which has garnered criticism from lawmakers from both sides of the aisle who question the administration’s strategy in the months-long conflict.
The hostilities, which were temporarily paused after the two sides agreed to a peace plan that quickly fell apart, have thrown the region into chaos, leaving at least 18 Americans dead, costing at least $37.5 billion and inflating the price of oil.The president and his administration have vigorously defended their handling of the war, arguing it is necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.Trump told reporters earlier Wednesday, “We’re going to Dover.Some of you are going with us.
To honor our heroes, and they are indeed great heroes, actually.They said, and all of them said very strongly, we can’t let, we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.
They won’t have a nuclear weapon.So we�...