Slain Troops’ Families Issue Ban After Trump Used Dignified Transfer for Cash
Families of soldiers killed in the Middle East sought privacy as their remains were transported with dignity following one of President Donald Trump’s brutal cash grabs.
Trump, 79, went to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Wednesday to commemorate the six soldiers who died when a tanker refueling in western Iraq crashed last week, bringing the death toll of American soldiers in the Iran war to at least 13.
Fox News’ John Roberts said on the day’s broadcast: America Reports He said that the relatives of the soldiers wanted the transfer to remain secret and that the cameras prohibited from showing Trump welcoming the martyred soldiers to their homes.
REUTERS
The six soldiers killed on March 12 were identified by the Pentagon as 33-year-old Major John Klinner; Captain Ariana Savino, 31; Technical. Sergeant. Ashley Pruitt, 34; Capt. Seth Koval, 38; Capt. Curtis Angst, 30; and Tech. Sergeant. Tyler Simmons, 28. They were from Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Washington state.
This marked Trump’s second appearance at an official military ceremony since declaring war on Iran last month. Coverage of the second honorable transfer was particularly quieter. The White House shared photos of the solemn ceremony at X.
The White House published a photo of the honorable transfer after the families of the martyred soldiers did not request it to the press. /Screenshot/WhiteHouse/X
The president was named first in the post. The attached photo shows Trump saluting and soldiers carrying a coffin.
The request from the families follows Trump’s controversial appearance last week during the dignified transfer of six other soldiers, wearing a white hat embroidered with gold “USA” as caskets covered in American flags were solemnly carried from a plane to a waiting vehicle in Dover.
President Donald Trump, wearing a gold-studded baseball cap from his own merchandise collection, attends the dignified transfer of the remains of six U.S. Army military members of the 103rd Sustainment Command. / Nathan Howard / REUTERS
Trump stands without bowing his head. Vice President J.D. Vance is following in his boss’s footsteps. / Nathan Howard / REUTERS
Trump then compounded this shocking display of disrespect by using footage of himself from this honorable transfer to beg cash from his supporters.
Never Surrender Inc. MAGA PAC used a photo of Trump saluting one of the caskets to promote a special group of newsletters that receive “national security briefings.”
“I am President Donald J. Trump,” the email said. “This is the first time I’m opening a slot at the National Security Briefing Membership. Very few spots left!”
Commentators noted the poor choice of design.
Email linking to a website soliciting donations of $1,000 or more to support Never Surrender Inc.’s “MAGA agenda.”
Trump tripled down on the controversy on Sunday, lashing out at a reporter who confronted him about it.
“Your PAC released a fundraising email a few days ago and is being criticized for using your official White House photos during the dignified transfer,” a female reporter began, before being interrupted by Trump.
“Unlike many people, I was on an honorable transfer,” he said.
“Do you think this is an appropriate email to send?” the reporter pressed.
“Yes, it is,” Trump replied. “I didn’t see it. I mean, someone hung it. We have a lot of people working for us.”
After learning that the reporter worked for ABC News, the president raged at the broadcaster, calling it “one of the worst, most fake, most corrupt organizations.”
“I think they suck. I don’t want any more from ABC,” he said, as he continued to take questions from another reporter.
Later at the same press conference, another reporter asked Trump to comment on the six soldiers killed.
The President ignored the question and asked, “Who else?” he said. to other journalists.
Embers did not attend An honorable transfer for a soldier killed in an Iranian attack on an air base in Saudi Arabia. His schedule and press pool reports indicated that he was on his way back to Washington, D.C., from Florida at the time.
