First lady Melania Trump used a White House event honoring military mothers on Wednesday to spotlight the human toll of the Iran war, paying tribute to Gold Star families and spouses anxiously awaiting loved ones deployed overseas as the conflict entered its third month.
“Words cannot comfort the all-consuming grief that family members, and mothers in particular, experience,” said Trump during the East Room event. “Their loss is overwhelming.”
The first lady specifically honored the fallen service members from the 103rd Sustainment Command, who died on March 1 at Port Shuaiba in Kuwait while supporting Operation Epic Fury, the military campaign that began the Iran war on Feb. 28.
“This is a time of military conflict for America, and whereby we honor our selfless and valiant service members regularly, today is the day we hold their mothers in the highest regard,” said Trump. “Of course, we must also remember the mothers with a spouse overseas, praying for a safe return so their family can become whole once again.”
The Iran war ceasefire nearly fell apart on Monday as Iran attacked U.S. naval forces and launched missiles against the United Arab Emirates. But President Donald Trump claimed he would pause “Project Freedom” to determine “whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed,” on Tuesday — a move that tamped down tensions.
On Wednesday, the president also announced that he would open the Strait of Hormuz to all nations if Tehran agrees to a peace deal with the U.S.
“We’re doing very well in Iran. It’s going very smoothly, and we’ll see what happens. They want to make a deal; they want to negotiate,” said the president. “And I think that military mothers would want to hear that. Do you agree? I think it’s appropriate.”
“The blockade is unbelievable. The Navy has been incredible,” he added. “The job they did … it’s like a wall of steel. Nobody goes through. In particular, the Iranians. They’re not getting anything through one way or the other, so they’re out of business.”
TRUMP COMMITS TO OPENING STRAIT OF HORMUZ IF IRAN AGREES TO DEAL ON THE TABLE
Negotiations between the nations have failed to produce a definitive end to the war, although Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed Iran will have no choice but to agree to U.S. terms.
Vice President JD Vance, second lady Usha Vance, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, and War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer Rauchet, were among the top Trump allies in attendance for the event.