President Trump traveled to Dover Air Force Base on Wednesday for the dignified transfer of the remains of four U.S. service members who died in recent days during the conflict with Iran. The president described the ceremony as "one of the hardest things to do" for him and for a president.
"We're going to honor them. And 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," Trump told reporters before the ceremony. He added that his message to the grieving families would be, "We love you. We love your child."
Three service members were killed in an Iranian missile strike on a Jordanian military base, and a fourth died during the controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone in northern Iraq. Trump vowed that Iran "is going to pay a big price" and is "being decimated."
The service members who died were identified as Army Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, and 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, who were killed in the Jordan attack. Army Sgt. Angel Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, N.Y., is also believed to have died in Jordan, and their remains were returned Wednesday. Army Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Spring Lake, N.C., died in Iraq.
As he departed Washington, Trump dismissed polling that suggested a majority of Americans oppose the ongoing conflict, stating, "Americans aren't against the war." He also referenced a poll indicating that while Americans don't want higher gasoline prices, they are "not against the war."
"Nobody wants Iran to have a nuclear weapon. You want Iran to have a nuclear weapon? You think it's good?" Trump asked reporters.
The current hostilities ended a cease-fire that had been in place since April 8, followed by a preliminary peace agreement signed by Trump on June 17. That tentative deal was abandoned after new Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump suggested Tuesday that Iran might be attempting to influence the November midterm elections by continuing the conflict. House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday that "now we've got to wrap it up."