President’s July 22 visit highlights Dover’s central role in receiving service members killed overseas

DOVER, Del. — President Donald Trump traveled to Dover Air Force Base on Wednesday to attend the dignified transfer of four U.S. Army service members killed in attacks connected to the conflict with Iran.

The visit was not a campaign stop or public event. Trump arrived at the base Wednesday morning and joined military leaders and family members for the transfer ceremony before departing Delaware shortly before 1 p.m.

Trump stood on the flight line with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and saluted as military carry teams moved four flag-draped transfer cases from an aircraft. The remains were then taken to the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations facility at Dover.

Before arriving, Trump described the ceremony as one of the most difficult responsibilities of the presidency.

“We’re going to honor our heroes,” Trump told reporters before traveling to Delaware. “It’s one of the hardest things to do as a president.”

The four soldiers died in separate incidents in Jordan and Iraq.

First Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii; Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York; and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, were killed when an Iranian missile struck sleeping quarters at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.

Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Spring Lake, North Carolina, was killed at Erbil Air Base in Iraq during the controlled detonation of a downed Iranian attack drone.

Trump met privately with the families of the fallen service members. Senior military officials and members of Congress also attended the ceremony.

The president’s attendance underscored the national significance of the losses and once again placed Dover Air Force Base at the center of the country’s military mourning process.

Dover is home to the nation’s largest military mortuary and serves as the primary arrival point for U.S. service members killed overseas. Mortuary personnel identify and prepare remains before they are released to families for burial.

The July 22 ceremony marked Trump’s third dignified transfer at Dover since the Iran conflict began in February.

The deaths brought the number of U.S. service members killed in the conflict to 18. Hundreds of others have been injured.

The visit also came as lawmakers in both parties continued to question the cost, duration and objectives of the conflict. Trump has defended the military campaign and warned that Iran would face further consequences for attacks on American troops.

For Delaware, the visit highlighted Dover Air Force Base’s unique and solemn national mission. The base has long served as the place where fallen service members return home and where presidents, military leaders and families gather to honor them.

To Go Box

• What: Dignified transfer of four U.S. Army service members
• When: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
• Where: Dover Air Force Base, Dover
• Who attended: President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, senior military leaders, members of Congress and families of the fallen service members
• Public access: The ceremony was not open to the public
• Learn more: Visit the Department of Defense or Dover Air Force Base websites for official information about dignified transfers and Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations

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