Trump salutes as 6 soldiers killed in Iran are transferred back to the U.S.

President Trump participated in a dignified transfer on Saturday of six service members who were killed in the first days of the war with Iran.

Mr. Trump, joined by first lady Melania Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff, attended the transfer of the Americans killed in action at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

The fallen servicemembers were identified by the Department of Defense as Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35, Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39, Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20, Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45 and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan, 54.

“I’m glad we paid our respects,” Mr. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One following the transfer. “It’s a tough situation … great people, great parents, wifes, families.”

The president said the parents of the service members were proud, adding that the war is going “unbelievably” and “as good as it can be.”

When asked by a Washington Post reporter about the possibility he’d have to return to Dover for more dignified transfers, Mr. Trump said “…I’d hate to do it, but it’s a part of war, isn’t it?”

“Wouldn’t you say it’s a part of war?” he asked the reporter. “It’s the sad part of war, the bad part of war.”

The six service members died during an unmanned aircraft system attack in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, on Sunday, March 1, the Defense Department said.

All were members of the 103rd Sustainment Command, which is based in Des Moines, Iowa. The unit provides food, supplies and other logistics support to the military.

Shortly after landing at Dover, Mr. Trump was greeted by officials, including Col. Jamil Musa, the Commander of the 436th Airlift Wing, and Col. Martha “Jeannie” Sasnett, the Commander of Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations.

Earlier Saturday, while addressing Latin American leaders in Miami, Mr. Trump called the soldiers’ deaths a “very sad situation” and said the servicemembers were “coming home in a different manner than they thought they’d be coming home.” 

“But they’re great heroes in our country, and we’re going to keep it that way,” Mr. Trump said. 

The dignified transfer, a ritual that returns the remains of U.S. service members killed in action, is considered one of the most somber duties of any commander in chief. During his first term, Mr. Trump called participating in the transfer “the toughest thing I have to do” as president.

After the dignified transfer was completed, Mr. Trump is set to return to Mar-a-Lago.