This is without a doubt, the most “Presidential” move we’ve seen in the past 8 years. President Donald Trump unexpectedly took off on Marine One, without telling anyone where he was going, but now we’ve learned where he was headed and we couldn’t be more proud to call him our President.
BREAKING: President Trump makes unannounced trip to honor the return of fallen US Navy SEAL killed in Yemen raid.
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 1, 2017
Pres. Trump and Ivanka Trump board Marine One for trip to Dover Air Force Base for arrival of remains of Navy SEAL killed in raid in Yemen. pic.twitter.com/sO5UiEwSTL
— ABC News (@ABC) February 1, 2017
Pres. Trump attending private ceremony with family of fallen Navy Seal killed in Yemen. https://t.co/OCTHiCOx9t
— KOAA News 5 (@KOAA) February 1, 2017
The Chief Special Warfare Operator William Owens, age 36, from Peoria, Illinois, was the first known U.S. combat casualty since Donald Trump took office two weeks ago. More than half a dozen militant suspects were killed in the raid on an Al-Quaida as well, and three U.S. service members were wounded.
Around dozens civilians more were also killed in the operation, including the 8-year old daughter of Anwar Al-Awlaki, who was a radical cleric and U.S citizen targeted and killed by a drone strike back in 2011.
The trip Trump made to Delaware’s Dover Air Base was a complete secret. The president along with his daughter Ivanka, departed the White House in the presidential helicopter while their destination wasn’t announced. Only a small group of journalists traveled with Trump, under the condition that the visit wasn’t reported until he arrived at the spot.
Upon arrival, the President met with Owens’ family during his two-hour visit to the base.
The death of Owens underscores the cost of human lives of the military campaigns Trump now oversees. Less troops are currently serving in combat, than in the times of Trump’s predecessors and the wars they waged in Iraq and Afghanistan, where thousands of Americans have left their remains.