Fox News issued an apology Sunday for airing old footage of a dignified transfer in which President Donald Trump was not wearing a ballcap during the dignified transfer of six American service members killed so far by Iran in Operation Epic Fury.
During the dignified transfer of the soldiers by an Iranian drone strike killed in Kuwait, the president was pictured wearing a white “USA” ball cap with “45-47” on the side, a fashion choice that critics labeled as disrespectful.
Clips aired on Fox News showed old footage of the hatless president as anchors discussed the honorable transfer of the U.S. service members during broadcasts on Saturday.
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“We want to acknowledge a mistake earlier on our program during our coverage of yesterday’s dignified transfer. We inadvertently aired video from an older dignified transfer instead of the ceremony that took place yesterday,” Fox News’s Griff Jenkins said in a video statement. “We deeply regret the error and extend our condolences to the service members’ families. We honor the sacrifice of those six American heroes.”
Jenkins is a co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend, which aired the old footage during its coverage of the dignified transfer on Saturday.
Trump’s choice to wear his self-branded ballcap during the event drew sharp criticism from both Democrats and Republicans.
The press account for Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) commented on a video of the transfer and told the president to “take your hat off, you disgusting little man.”
Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele also condemned Trump’s attire.
“This fool has ABSOLUTELY no sense of dignity or appreciation for the moment. It is called the Dignified Transfer for a reason. Take your damn hat off!!” he said.
While there are rules about headwear for U.S. military members, there are no explicit rules on such attire for presidents.
The ceremony, a solemn military tradition where remains of service members are returned to U.S. soil, has generally been observed in formal attire by commanders in chief.
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The Pentagon identified the six U.S. service members returned as Maj. Jeffrey R. O’Brien, 45; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54; Capt. Cody A. Khork, 35; Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens, 42; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor, 39; and Sgt. Declan J. Coady, 20.
All the Army Reserve soldiers were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, Des Moines, Iowa, and were killed when a drone struck a tactical operations center at Port Shuabia, a logistics hub in Kuwait used by U.S. forces to move equipment and supplies across the region. The attack also wounded at least 18 other service members.
