SerpApi.Org
President Donald Trump claimed to have ushered in the "golden age" during his second presidential term, seconds after he invoked the family of a U.S. soldier recently killed in a retaliatory strike from Iran.
In recent days, Trump has faced backlash for its handling of the Iran war, which has seemed to reach a boiling point as Washington has attacked the Islamic country for 11 consecutive days and has so far killed a total of 18 U.S. service members. The most recent deaths of four troops occurred on Friday in Jordan and Iraq, respectively.
Despite the tragic deaths of more than a dozen U.S. troops over the nearly six-month war, President Trump has insisted it is necessary. On Wednesday, the president tried to honor one of the dead service members, 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, by saying: "He's looking down right here, he's so proud. Together we are making our country safer and stronger and far more successful than it has ever been before. That's happening before your very eyes. That's why I call it the golden age," the president told the crowd.
• Donald Trump slammed as 'disgraceful' for not bowing during dignified transfer for slain soldiers
Feehan, who was one of two troops killed by an Iranian attack on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, enlisted in Hawaii but reportedly spent the majority of his time living in Georgia, according to his father.
X users did not seem moved by the president's tribute.
"Sounds like the script for a reality show where the plot twist is a gold rush that never happened," one wrote.
"I really cant fathom parents going to a rally for a president that got there child killed in a moronic war…. Says alot about trump supporters. They are beyond saving," another said.
"Always the sleazy salesman and never the smart statesman," a third added.
Earlier in the day, Trump honored the lives of the four U.S. service members who were killed in the Middle East and returned to their families at an air force base in Delaware.
The president saluted as four transfer cases carrying the service members’ remains were escorted off an airplane during the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base. The ritual is one of the most somber duties of a commander-in-chief. It was the third that Trump has attended since he launched the war in Iran in February.
He was slammed online for not bowing his head in a show of respect for Feehan, Army Staff Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, Army Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad and Army Pvt. Isabella Gonzales
“No awareness. No respect. The man is a delusional puppet,” one user wrote in response to the image. Another added, “He can’t even bow his head?”
Speaking at an event in Georgia hours later, Trump described the ritual as “the toughest thing I do.”
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“I’ve been there many times before,” he said of Dover. “This was, in particular, something very sad.”
Trump said his message to families was simple: “We love you. We love your child,” Trump told reporters.
