Politics

President Trump Makes Unannounced Trip To Dover Air Force Base To Honor Fallen U.S. Navy SEAL

Kaitlan Collins Contributor
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President Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump sparked headlines when they boarded Marine One and headed for an unknown destination on Wednesday.

(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

Reporters demanded to know where the president was going, but many of them fell silent when they found out he was headed to Dover Air Force Base to join the family of Chief Special Warfare Operator William “Ryan” Owens — who was killed during a nighttime raid on an al-Qaeda-held village in Yemen over the weekend — in receiving his remains.

(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

Until Wednesday afternoon, the trip was unannounced.

(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

Owens, who is from Peoria, Ill., was killed Saturday in an intelligence-gathering mission.

“Ryan gave his full measure for our nation, and in performing his duty, he upheld the noblest standard of military service,” Secretary of Defense James Mattis said in a statement.

“The United States would not long exist were it not for the selfless commitment of such warriors.”

(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

Vice President Mike Pence, Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, and Jared Kushner all watched the president and his daughter board Marine One.

(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Two military aides carry the nuclear football. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Two military aides carry the nuclear football. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

(Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

(Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)