Trump Reveals Fears of Iranian Trap in Rescue of Downed U.S. Fighter Crew Member
President Donald Trump disclosed that U.S. officials initially feared a communication from a downed American airman in Iran could have been a deceptive tactic designed to draw U.S. forces into an ambush.
According to Trump, the crew member of an F-15 survived for more than a full day in mountainous terrain despite being injured, before being extracted Saturday in a high-risk special operations mission.
Roughly 200 special operations troops were involved in the rescue effort, Trump said, describing the scale of the operation.
He added that the aircraft had been brought down by Iranian forces using a shoulder-fired missile, saying, “They got lucky.”
In remarks given shortly after confirming the rescue, Trump said that “thousands of these savages were hunting him down,” referring to Iranian military forces, and added, “Even the population was looking for him. They offered people a bonus if they captured him.”
Trump explained that the downed officer took cover in a mountain crevice and was eventually located using advanced U.S. surveillance capabilities.
He said U.S. forces were tracking signals tied to the officer’s location, but concerns arose after a radio transmission suggested he might have been captured and that Iranian forces were “sending false signals” to lure rescuers.
Describing the initial communication, Trump said the officer transmitted a brief and unusual message after ejecting: “He said: ‘Power be to God.'”
A U.S. defense official confirmed the general account but clarified that the phrase was “God is good.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also used the phrase “God is good” in a social media post on Sunday.
Trump noted that the wording of the message raised suspicions at first, saying, “What he said on the radio sounded like something a Muslim would say.”
He added that those familiar with the officer later explained he was religious, making the statement consistent with his personal beliefs.
A defense official supported that explanation, saying, “It was not completely clear early on, but we stuck with it and verified he was alive and not captured. And those who knew him said he is religious.”
Trump also pointed out that the pilot of the aircraft had been rescued earlier, in a daylight mission conducted under heavy Iranian fire.
A U.S. defense official described that earlier operation as “a bold and quick snatch” carried out during the day, while the later rescue took place at night after U.S. forces established a temporary position inside Iranian territory.
“The two crew members were spread apart by a couple miles. Hundreds of IRGC soldiers were everywhere,” the official said.
Trump noted that Israeli forces provided limited assistance during the rescue effort, saying they helped “a little bit.”
A U.S. official clarified that while Israel did not supply precise location data for the downed officer, it did share broader intelligence about conditions on the ground.
Israeli officials added that the Israeli Air Force carried out a strike intended to prevent Iranian forces from reaching the area.
“They have been good partners. They have been great and brave people. We are like a big brother and little brother,” Trump said.
