<img src="https://todaytrendnews7.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1784740834360_now_brk_kube_trump_dignified_transfer_260722_S3_1920x1080-w5wgv2-1.jpg” alt=””>
Trump attends dignified transfer of U.S. service members killed in Iran war
20:06
Get more newson
July 22, 2026, 2:41 PM EDT
By Megan Brand
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
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 them 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
The event marked the latest impact of the war, which has garnered criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who question the administration’s strategy in the monthslong conflict. The hostilities, which were 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’re going to honor them. And it’s one of the hardest things to do, for me, it’s one of the hardest things to do as a president, but has to be done.”
The family members of the fallen service members attended the dignified transfer, where the bodies of their loved ones were moved in American flag-draped transfer cases from a plane into waiting vans
Uniformed service members marched the transfer cases past officials, including Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Chris Coons, D-Del., also attended
Trump and other officials saluted as the remains passed before them, while others placed their hands on their hearts. The president also met privately with the families, the White House confirmed
Gonzales was killed Friday and Feehan was killed Saturday, the Pentagon said. It also said that Swinton was killed Sunday “during a controlled detonation” of an attack drone
Rampersad was “believed to have been killed” in Jordan, the Pentagon said, adding that “the incident is under investigation.” The Pentagon has said that she is believed to have been the missing soldier who is presumed dead
Hegseth grilled over growing cost of Iran war
01:56
Hegseth faced questions from senators Tuesday about the cost and strategy of the war during a tense hearing on the Pentagon’s budget request
During one particularly heated exchange, Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., called the Trump administration’s efforts “an utter and complete failure” and pressed Hegseth on what the long-term plan is to end the war
“You have over a trillion dollars,” Peters said. “You’re asking for one and a half trillion dollars. It’s not a question of money. It’s a question of leadership and understanding what it takes to actually win.”
