President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and War Secretary Pete Hegseth went to Dover Air Force Base to attend the dignified transfer for six American soldiers killed by an Iranian drone strike on a U.S. installation in Kuwait last week.
The solemn ceremony began around 3 p.m. Eastern with a cargo plane delivering flag-draped transfer cases.
Seven-soldier carry teams in camouflage, black berets and white gloves moved each case from the plane ramp past assembled dignitaries to awaiting transfer vans.
President Trump, Vice President Vance and Secretary Hegseth were seen praying before the plane arrived.
Other senior figures attending included Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and military leaders such as Col. Jamil Musa and Col. Martha “Jeannie” Sasnett were also present.
U.S. senators in attendance included Amy Klobuchar, Chuck Grassley, Joni Ernst, Deb Fischer, Pete Ricketts and Lisa Blunt Rochester.
Governors Kim Reynolds, Jim Pillen and Ron DeSantis were among those who came to pay respects.
Families of the fallen were present and President Trump met privately with relatives during the event.
The six fallen service members were identified as Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien, 45, of Waukee, Iowa; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California; Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa.
The president posted on Truth Social before the ceremony, “I will be going to Dover Air Force Base tomorrow, with the First Lady and Members of my Cabinet, to pay our Highest Respect to our Great Warriors, who are returning home for the last time. GOD BLESS THEM ALL!”
When reporters aboard Air Force One asked about the weight of the casualties, the president paid tribute to the fallen and said he had spoken with their families, as he said.
The president added that operations would likely continue for the foreseeable future but did not provide a specific timetable.
He also stated, “We’re winning the war by a lot. We’ve decimated their whole evil empire. It’ll continue, I’m sure, for a little while,” he continued, and officials said operations were proceeding as planned.
