Trump Honors Military Flight Teams for Iran Strikes

During a rally in Iowa on Thursday night, President Donald Trump announced that military flight crews involved in the strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites will be recognized at a White House event on Independence Day.

Trump expressed frustration over initial media narratives suggesting the strikes were only somewhat effective. “Remember CNN saying it didn’t completely disappear? Well, it was indeed destroyed. That’s been established now,” he stated.

He further criticized the media for their portrayal, saying, “They tried to downplay it, but the pilots and mechanics—who swiftly executed the strikes—know what happened. They hit their targets, plain and simple.”

“These individuals executed one of the most significant military operations in our history,” Trump continued, confirming that not only the pilots but full crews would be honored at the White House. “We’ll have everyone who made it happen, including the mechanics who kept those planes airborne for 37 hours straight.”

He added, “China, Russia—they were all observing. We have remarkable people everywhere, and our military is unmatched globally.”

In his comments, Trump also recounted a preemptive call he received from Iran before a retaliatory strike aimed at a U.S. base in Qatar. “They reached out and said they had to carry out an attack. This was Iran. It speaks to a level of respect they have for us, especially after we dropped 14 bombs. They wanted to let us know where they would strike,” he explained.

The president added that he was informed about the timing of the potential strike and discussed adjustments with the Iranian officials before they launched their missiles. “It was all very organized. They fired 14 high-quality missiles, and it was effective,” he noted, portraying the event as a significant moment in international dynamics.