'Sacrificed by the pedos': Trump faces backlash over US service member deaths
U.S. Navy sailors signal to an E-2D Hawkeye aircraft, attached to Airborne Command and Control Squadron 124, as it taxis on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, while operating in support of the Operation Epic Fury attack on Iran from an undisclosed location February 28, 2026. U.S. Navy/Handout via REUTERS.

President Donald Trump faced backlash after at least three U.S. service members were killed following the strikes he ordered on Iran over the weekend.

On Sunday, U.S. Central Command announced that three members of the armed forces had been killed in action during Operation Epic Fury.

"Several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussions — and are in the process of being returned to duty. Major combat operations continue, and our response effort is ongoing," CENTCOM said in a statement. "The situation is fluid, so out of respect for the families, we will withhold additional information, including the identities of our fallen warriors, until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified."

The announcement was met with prayers and criticism.

"Sacrificed by the pedos of Washington to protect Tel Aviv while Israelis are singing and dancing in bomb shelters. What a sad ending," Hadi Nasrallah lamented.

"3 Americans are now KIA in Trump's regime change war of choice," Breaking Points host Saagar Enjeti wrote.

"RIP. Praying for their families," Lincoln Project's Rick Wilson commented. "I am reminded, apropos of nothing, that one of (if not the first) casualties of Operation Iraqi Freedom was a young Marine rifleman named Jose Gutierrez. He was a Guatemalan immigrant who was granted American citizenship after he died fighting for our country."

"Donald Trump has more American blood on his hands, having helped cause the unnecessary deaths of these three soldiers with his illegal, unprovoked, unnecessary war on Iran," Mehdi Hasan said.