Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth drew parallels between the rescue mission of an Air Force officer shot down in Iran on Good Friday and Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.
Hegseth spoke Monday during President Donald Trump‘s press conference centered on the Easter weekend rescue mission. He described how the airman “evaded capture for more than a day, scaling rugged ridges while hunted by the enemy.”
“When he was finally able to activate his emergency transponder, his first message was simple and it was powerful. He sent a message: ‘God is good,'” Hegseth said. “In that moment of isolation and danger, his faith and fighting spirit shone through.”
Hegseth continued to describe the experience of the airman, suggesting that it was a spiritual experience for him.
TRUMP TOUTS AIRMAN RESCUE MISSION, BOASTS IRAN COULD BE ‘TAKEN OUT IN 1 NIGHT’
“You see, shot down on a Friday —Good Friday — hidden in a cave — a crevice — all of Saturday and rescued on Sunday,” Hegseth said. “Flown out of Iran as the sun was rising on Easter Sunday, a pilot reborn. All home and accounted for. A nation rejoicing. God is good.”
Throughout the press conference, Trump also gave thanks to God for the success of the rescue mission, claiming multiple times that “God was watching us.”
‘GOD IS GOOD’: INSIDE THE HIGH-RISK US MISSION TO SAVE A WOUNDED AIRMAN SHOT DOWN IN IRAN
On Friday, Iran shot down an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet. The pilot and weapons systems officer ejected. A rescue mission was immediately deployed, and the pilot was rescued later that day.
The Iranian government soon became aware of the U.S. military crash, posting photos online. Meanwhile, the weapons systems officer avoided capture by hiding in a mountain crevice. He climbed 7,000 feet to his hiding spot and remained missing for nearly 48 hours before being rescued in a coordinated effort involving 155 aircraft.
“No American lives were lost,” Hegseth said. “We leave no man behind. And that is not luck. It’s the result of unmatched training, superior technology and unbreakable warrior ethos and sheer American grit. Our special operators, pilots and support crews performed with near perfection under fire, and they were lethal.”
“Just ask any Iranian soldier who dared attempt to get anywhere near that pilot before or during that mission. Death from above. Our troops turned a potential tragedy into a resounding demonstration of American resolve and capability.”
Hegseth ties Iran rescue to Easter story and Jesus Christ: ‘A pilot reborn’ 2026 IUSTITIA.BG – Investigations 2009-2025 2026-04-06 19:49:40 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
