President Donald Trump has been accused of skipping the dignified transfer of four American soldiers who died during a training exercise in Lithuania.
NBC News first reported that Trump would not be present for the transfer at Delaware’s Dover Air Force base on Friday because he is attending a dinner reception in Florida.
The president departed the White House for his Doral resort in Florida on Thursday and dined with leaders of the LIV Golf tour later that evening.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed to Newsweek on Friday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “will represent the Administration at the dignified transfer for the four brave U.S. servicemembers who tragically died during a training exercise in Lithuania.”
Trump’s public schedule for Friday only lists a dinner at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach at 7.30 p.m. ET.
Newsweek has not confirmed the exact timing of the dignified transfer, but an administration official said families of the deceased requested that no media be present. “The White House is requesting their respect for privacy today and has been working on correspondence to the families,” the official added.
President Donald Trump and his son Eric at his Doral resort in Florida. Trump has been accused of skipping the dignified transfer of four American soldiers who died during a training exercise in Lithuania.
President Donald Trump and his son Eric at his Doral resort in Florida. Trump has been accused of skipping the dignified transfer of four American soldiers who died during a training exercise in Lithuania.
Lauren Sopourn/Getty Images
Why It Matters
A “solemn” dignified transfer of remains is conducted on arrival at Dover Air Force base to honor those who have given their lives in service to the country, according to the Air Force website. Media access to dignified transfers is only permitted with the consent of the family of the deceased.
Presidents do not always attend dignified transfers, but are often present. The HuffPost reported in September 2020 that of the 96 dignified transfers that took place from the start of Trump’s first term, Trump had only attended four.
What To Know
The bodies of the U.S. soldiers who died in Lithuania were recovered this week after authorities dug their armored vehicle out of a peat bog in Lithuania. The soldiers were identified as Troy S. Knutson-Collins, 28; Jose Duenez Jr., 25; Edvin F. Franco, 25; and Dante D. Taitano, 21.
The four soldiers, who were part of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, were on a tactical training exercise then they were reported missing on March 25. Their vehicle was found the following day submerged in water, and it took days to pull it out.
Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda attended a departure ceremony on Thursday to honor the soldiers, as hearses carried their bodies to Vilnius airport to be flown to the U.S. for burial.
On social media, many users were critical of Trump reportedly not attending the dignified transfer.
Lawyer Tristen Snell wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Trump “abandons fallen soldiers, goes golfing instead.”
He added: “This evening Trump was supposed to meet the families of 4 fallen US soldiers as their coffins return from Lithuania where they were killed in an accident. He canceled. Instead he dined with Saudi golf execs and sponsors for a golf tournament at one of his resorts.”
What People Are Saying
President Trump did mention the dignified transfer to reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday evening, but said that he would attend “a couple” of golf dinners this weekend.
“I’ll be speaking tonight. I think I’m making a speech to the players, great players, some of the best players in the world,” he said.
Trump told reporters on March 26, the day after the soldiers were reported missing, that he had not been briefed on the situation.
Fred Wellman, an Army combat veteran and podcast host, wrote on Bluesky that Trump “hates the military. We are just props.”
Zac Petkanas, a former senior adviser to Hillary Clinton, wrote on X: “Trump is refusing to go to Dover Air Force Base to meet the coffins of the four US soldiers who died in Lithuania. He’s attending a golf dinner reception instead. However, the Lithuanian president found time to meet our soldiers’ coffins at his airport.”
Democratic strategist Matt McMcDermott wrote on X: “What are the chances that Fox, which manufactured a faux ‘scandal’ about Biden simply checking his watch during a dignified transfer, will even report the fact that Trump skipped today’s dignified transfer to play golf?”
Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, the commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division, said in a statement on Wednesday: “Although we are relieved to have found all our Dogface Soldiers, it does not make the pain of their loss any less. We will continue to care for and support the Soldiers’ Families and loved ones as we bring them home and honor their memory.”
What’s Next
The president’s public schedule states that he will attend a dinner at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida at 7.30 p.m. ET on Friday.
Update 4/4/2025, 10:30 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comments from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and an administration official.
