Trump’s Easter Message Celebrates “Incredibly Brave” Pilots Rescued From Iran
on Apr 06, 2026
The Aviators Were Rescued In “Violent” Operations Approved By The President
Flanked by First Lady Melania Trump and the Easter Bunny, President Donald Trump continued a White House tradition as he delivered remarks on Monday, April 6, from the balcony of the South Lawn of the White House.
The celebration of Easter at the White House followed a week of events held by the White House Faith Office, as well as statements from the president on faith, including a message on the anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II, who died on April 2, 2005.
On Easter Monday, Trump’s attention continued to be on the reason for the holiday, and with an extra emphasis on American achievements.
“Today is a very special day,” started President Trump. “It’s a day where we celebrate Jesus. It’s a day where we celebrate religion, and it’s an honor to be the president of the United States.”
Saying that America is “doing so well,” Trump gave a brief rundown of accomplishments in the economy and the military before speaking on the rescue of one of the missing crew members of the F-15 that was shot down over Iran on April 3.
“What about the rescue that took place yesterday?” Trump asked to applause from attendees. “It’s something that you rarely see.”
The F-15 was the first U.S. fighter jet shot down by Iran during Operation Epic Fury. Another plane was shot down later that day, but the pilot managed to fly into neighboring airspace of allied Kuwait before ejecting to safety.
Speaking on the briefing of the rescue of the missing crew member, Trump said, “They were giving me a briefing about that, and they said, ‘Normally, when you’re in very hostile territory,’ and I don’t think it gets much more hostile than Iran, they’re capable fighters and very tough people … ‘in most instances, you’re really not able to go in, because you’ll go in with 200 people and lots of jet fighters and helicopters, and you really don’t have a chance.'”
He went on to reveal that there were two pilots who were rescued, with American intelligence managing to keep word of the other missing crew member quiet.
Trump said, “Those two pilots were incredibly brave, and we thank them.”
Offering some further details, Trump posted on the rescue missions on Truth Social on Easter Sunday, as seen here:
A news conference on the rescue of the pilots and other matters in Iran was held in the Oval Office in the afternoon of April 6, with with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan “Raizin” Caine speaking on the details of the daring rescue raids.
Describing this as an “incredibly brave and courageous mission, and a testament to the courage, skill, and tenacity of the Joint Force and our leaders,” Chairman Caine said a team of airmen “audaciously penetrated enemy territory in broad daylight” in a plan authorized by President Trump.
Chairman Caine said:
“This was an incredibly dangerous mission, an incredibly dangerous undertaking, but a filled promise made to every American warfighter that you will not be left behind. We will always come find you, and we will always bring you home.”
He went on to praise “the spirit of attack in the heart” of the missing aviators, noting that the back seater of the downed two-person F-15 had evaded the enemy on foot while wounded.
Watch Chairman Caine’s full remarks, as well as comments at length from President Trump, here:
Trump White House Sees 40,000 Eggs In Easter Festivities
Trump then pivoted to a subject close to the day’s Easter festivities: eggs.
“Today, we have more than 40,000 eggs, supplied by all of the great egg farmers that are with us,” Trump said, noting that getting the cost of eggs down was a priority of his administration’s first 100 days in 2025.
Turning to First Lady Melania Trump, he asked if she would like to deliver a few remarks, with Melania saying, “Happy Easter Monday. I hope you enjoy this beautiful day. We are celebrating a very special Easter egg roll this year because it’s 250th birthday of this beautiful nation. Enjoy it, and I hope you have a wonderful day.”
He noted that Melania worked very hard with the White House staff to put together the Easter events at the White House, adding, “This is the nicest I’ve ever seen it.”
Watch the Easter Monday festivities at the White House, here:
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More On The White House Easter Traditions
This tradition goes back to 1878, during the presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes, the White House’s Easter festivities have been built upon by the administrations which followed. In several cases, the First Lady has had a role in further defining this Easter Monday event.
According to the White House website, First Lady Lou Hoover had “part of the South Lawn roped off for folk dancing.” A few decades later, First Lady Pat Nixon introduced the egg roll races.
In 1981, First Lady Nancy Reagan had the first wooden Easter egg made as a keepsake for attendees of the White House’s festivities.
Typically, the children of members of the White House Press Corp participate in the egg roll.
