Donald Trump extensively talked about the rescue operation of an American pilot whose plane was shot down by the Iranians during a press conference on Monday, April 6, 2026. He mentioned that over 170 aircraft were involved in this historic rescue, but there was a mole that leaked information to the Iranians.
An incredible rescue
Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, explained that the pilot had hidden in a cave to avoid being captured. American soldiers were well-prepared for the rescue operation, with Peer de Jong, the co-founder of Themiis Institute, mentioning that the pilot had a distress beacon and a radio to communicate with the U.S. forces. The American operation was conducted under fire, with fighter jets engaging Iranian forces to protect the pilot.
“We control the sky”
Pete Hegseth addressed the Iranians, stating that the U.S. military can go anywhere at any time to protect Americans. He emphasized that they controlled the sky and conducted rescue missions over Iran successfully. Hegseth praised the soldiers, President Trump’s leadership, and the United States.
