Jeffries 'thankful' US airman was rescued but criticizes 'reckless and costly war'
Source: ABC News
April 5, 2026, 11:02 AM
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday called the rescue of a U.S. airman in Iran "heroic," but continued to criticize what he called a "war of choice" with Iran, now in its sixth week.
"I'm thankful that a second U.S. airman has been rescued heroically by our special forces. And we, of course, continue to pray for the safety, the health, the well-being of all of our men and women who are in uniform in a very dangerous theater of war," Jeffries told ABC News' "This Week" anchor George Stephanopoulos. "Donald Trump has gotten us involved in this reckless war of choice without any plan, any strategic objectives, and no clear exit strategy."
U.S. forces overnight rescued an American airman who was reported missing after an F-15 was shot down by Iran over its territory Friday. President Donald Trump announced just after midnight Sunday that he had been found and was now "safe and sound." Trump said the airman "sustained injuries, but he will be just fine." The pilot was rescued on Friday.
Jeffries and most of his party have been staunchly opposed to the war with Iran and criticized the White House's proposed budget, which would raise defense spending in fiscal year 2027 to $1.5 trillion, a 42% increase from 2026. The Pentagon is also seeking a $200 billion supplemental funding bill from Congress to fund the war.
Read more: https://abcnews.com/Politics/jeffries-thankful-us-airman-rescued-criticizes-reckless-costly/story?id=131741483
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