Trump calls airman rescue an “Easter Miracle" mission

[ad_1] US rescues missing airman deep in Iran Retired Navy Captain Brent Sadler joins 'Fox & Pals Weekend' discussing the coaching and course of behind the extraction of two U.S. airmen that had been in a downed F-15E deep inside Iran.

NEW Now you can take heed to Fox Information articles!

President Donald Trump hailed the rescue of a lacking U.S. airman from a downed F-15E in Iran as an "Easter Miracle," after U.S. forces recovered the second crew member following a high-risk mission behind enemy traces.

"The rescue was an Easter Miracle. The enemy was massive and violent. The rescuers had been sensible, robust, decisive, and as cool as anybody might be," Trump told NBC host Kristen Welker. "Such a rescue has by no means occurred earlier than in so violent an enemy territory. It's often not accomplished as a result of it's thought-about not doable."

The rescue adopted the downing of the F-15, which triggered a multi-day search operation inside Iran. U.S. forces had already recovered the primary crew member earlier than finding the second, who had been lacking in mountainous terrain as Iranian forces searched the realm in massive numbers.

From left, President Donald Trump, White Home Particular Envoy to the Center East Steve Witkoff, heart, and Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth take heed to a reporter's query whereas touring aboard Air Drive One en route from Dover Air Drive Base, Del., to Miami, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Picture/Mark Schiefelbein)

US PILOT RESCUED FROM DOWNED F-15E FIGHTER JET IN IRAN, SEARCH FOR SECOND CREW MEMBER ONGOING

In a public assertion asserting the profitable restoration, Trump characterised the operation as one of the daring in U.S. military historical past and supplied an replace on the airman’s situation.

"Over the previous a number of hours, the US Navy pulled off one of the daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. Historical past. He's injured, however he will probably be simply high quality," Trump stated. "Now we have rescued the severely wounded, and actually courageous, F-15 Crew Member/Officer, from deep contained in the mountains of Iran. The Iranian Navy was wanting onerous, in huge numbers, and getting shut."

Trump additionally highlighted the operational dangers concerned, stressing that missions of this sort are not often tried as a result of hazard to each personnel and gear.

Fishing boats dot the ocean as cargo ships, within the background, sail by the Arabian Gulf towards the Strait of Hormuz off the United Arab Emirates. (AP Picture)

WHAT B-52 BOMBERS BRING TO IRAN FIGHT — AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE WAR

"This kind of raid is seldom tried due to the hazard to ‘man and gear.’ It simply doesn’t occur," he stated.

He revealed that the sooner rescue of the primary crew member had been intentionally withheld from public disclosure in an effort to defend the second operation, suggesting coordination throughout a number of high-risk missions.

"This miraculous Search and Rescue Operation comes along with a profitable rescue of one other courageous Pilot, yesterday, which we didn't verify, as a result of we didn't wish to jeopardize our second rescue operation," Trump stated.

Trump described the twin restoration as traditionally important, saying the US had completed one thing not beforehand seen in fashionable navy operations.

President Donald Trump referred to as on the nations of the world to summon some "delayed braveness" and "simply take" the Strait of Hormuz. (Alex Brandon/Pool by way of REUTERS; Benoit Tessier / Reuters)

TRUMP SAYS IRAN ‘NO LONGER A THREAT’ AFTER 32 DAYS — OUTLINES NEXT PHASE OF US WAR

"That is the primary time in navy reminiscence that two U.S. Pilots have been rescued, individually, deep in Enemy Territory," he stated.

He framed the mission as a broader demonstration of U.S. navy functionality, pointing to the shortage of American casualties and what he described as dominance within the operational setting.

"The truth that we had been capable of pull off each of those operations, and not using a SINGLE American killed, and even wounded, reveals overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies," Trump stated.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

He additionally referred to as for unity in response to the operation, arguing that the rescue ought to be a second of shared nationwide satisfaction throughout political traces.

"This can be a second that ALL Individuals, Republican, Democrat, and everybody else, ought to be happy with and united round," Trump stated. "We actually have the perfect, {most professional}, and deadly Navy within the Historical past of the World."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

CJ Womack is an affiliate editor at Fox Information.

CJ joined Fox Information Digital's staff in 2026, which highlights the important function journalism performs in shaping politics and tradition. He has years of expertise analyzing and reporting on the information media.