President Trump cut short his campaign rally in Manchester, New Hampshire with Vice President Mike Pence Monday night so he could honor two servicemen killed in Afghanistan on Saturday at a Dignified Transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Reporters observed Trump spoke at a faster pace than usual and finished after about an hour making this one of his shortest rallies. Afterward it was announced Trump and Pence would be stopping at Dover. The original guidance was that only Pence would be at Dover.
Trump is speaking fast than normal at this rally, speeding through his speech, on and off prompter.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) February 11, 2020
Trump has concluded after one hour. A short rally speech by his 2019 standards — more like 2017 length.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 11, 2020
WH confirms Pres Trump now heading from NH to Dover AFB in DE to attend Dignified Transfer Ceremony for two US soldiers killed last week in Afghanistan:
-Sgt 1st Class Javier Jaguar Gutierrez, 28, San Antonio.
-Sgt 1st Class Antonio Rey Rodriguez, 28, Las Cruces, NM.— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 11, 2020
.@realDonaldTrump and @VP Pence look on during a Dignified Transfer at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware for two US Soldiers who killed during a US-Afgan operation in the Nangarhar province in easter Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/ny9lcRbMZc
— Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) February 11, 2020
This is Sgt. 1st Class Javier Jaguar Gutierrez, 28, and Sgt. 1st Class Antonio Rey Rodriguez, 28. They are the two U.S. Special Forces soldiers killed in Afghanistan on Saturday.
RIP. https://t.co/kx0fwv1O6v pic.twitter.com/1nSFZug8iD
— Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) February 9, 2020
A man dressed in an Afghanistan army uniform opened fire with a machine gun, killing Sgt. Javier Jaguar Gutierrez, 28 and Sgt. Antonio Rey Rodriguez, also 28 and wounding six other soldiers. One Afghan soldier was also killed and three wounded in the insider attack that took place during a joint operation in Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan.
The AP reported on the heartbreaking moment when a family member was overcome with grief at Dover.
…Trump saluted and Vice President Mike Pence placed his hand over his heart as transfer cases containing the remains were carried out of a C-17 military plane and transferred to a transport vehicle.
As Trump and Pence stood on the tarmac in a falling mist, a woman among the mourners broke free of efforts to hold her back and ran toward the plane. She threw herself on its ramp, crying and screaming, as mourners and an official tried to restrain her. She wailed as the doors on the transfer vehicle closed.
Trump and Pence, who had traveled from a rally in New Hampshire, also met with the families before taking part in what is known in the military as a “dignified transfer.”
National security adviser Robert O’Brien told reporters traveling with Trump aboard Air Force One that the president had wrapped up a reelection campaign rally in New Hampshire early so he could be with the families…
.@realDonaldTrump walks off Air Force One at 12:35am in the rain at Joint Base Andrews, Md. following a campaign trip to New Hampshire and a trip to Dover Air Force Base to view a Dignified Transfer. pic.twitter.com/OTt1AzbWg7
— Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) February 11, 2020
President Trump tweeted when he returned home, “Just returned to White House from Dover. Very sad!”
Just returned to White House from Dover. Very sad! https://t.co/0Ld0gzXdLe
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 11, 2020
Ivanka Trump also posted a tribute to the fallen soldiers, “Rest In Peace SFC Antonio R. Rodriguez and SFC Javier J. Gutierrez. Our country owes an enormous debt of gratitude for your honorable, selfless service and the sacrifice of your families.”
Rest In Peace SFC Antonio R. Rodriguez and SFC Javier J. Gutierrez.
Our country owes an enormous debt of gratitude for your honorable, selfless service and the sacrifice of your families. https://t.co/sp0YcUpW2J
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) February 11, 2020
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