First Lady Melania Trump withdrew at the last minute from a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base honoring two Iowa National Guard soldiers and a civilian interpreter killed in an ambush in Syria. President Trump attended the ceremony, which honored Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25; William Nathaniel Howard, 29; and interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat. U.S. officials attribute the attack to an Islamic State affiliate. The first lady’s absence came hours after a trailer for a documentary about her was released; the White House gave no reason for her withdrawal.
Melania Abruptly Skips Dover Dignified Transfer for Fallen U.S. Soldiers — White House Silent
ALEX WROBLEWSKI / AFP via Getty Images
First Lady Melania Trump unexpectedly withdrew at the last minute from a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base honoring U.S. service members killed in an ambush in Syria.
The White House confirmed to the Daily Beast that the first lady pulled out of the event but declined to provide a reason. President Donald Trump attended the ceremony on Wednesday, accompanied by his chief of staff Susie Wiles, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth salute as a U.S. Army carry team moves a flagged-draped transfer case containing the remains of Iowa National Guardsman Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar at Dover Air Force Base on December 17, 2025 in Dover, Delaware. / Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images
Who Was Honored
The transfer honored Iowa National Guard soldiers Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, and William Nathaniel Howard, 29, along with civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat, a Michigan resident. U.S. officials say the three were killed on Dec. 13 during a counter‑terrorism mission in the Palmyra region of Syria, in an ambush attributed to an Islamic State affiliate.
President's Response
In a post on Truth Social, Mr. Trump called the incident an "ISIS attack" and warned of "very serious retaliation." The post also included a reference to foreign leaders and reactions. The White House did not link the first lady’s absence to the president’s statement or to any other specific cause.
"This was an ISIS attack against the U.S., and Syria, in a very dangerous part of Syria, that is not fully controlled by them," Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. "The President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is extremely angry and disturbed by this attack. There will be very serious retaliation."
Timing And Public Attention
The first lady’s no‑show came hours after a trailer for a new documentary about her life in the 20 days leading up to President Trump’s Jan. 20, 2025 inauguration was released publicly. The trailer shows behind‑the‑scenes footage — including Ms. Trump preparing to enter the U.S. Capitol Rotunda and telling the camera, "Here we go again." The film, titled Melania, is scheduled for a wider theatrical release on Jan. 30, 2026.
Wednesday’s transfer was the first dignified transfer the president has attended since returning to the White House in January. Mr. Trump has described such ceremonies as among the most difficult duties of the Commander‑in‑Chief.
With the White House declining to explain the first lady’s absence, the decision has prompted questions from reporters and observers about the timing and circumstances surrounding her sudden withdrawal from the solemn event.
