Fallen airman Sgt Tyler H Simmons’ father recalls Trump’s words at Dover: 'His humanity showed'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Mylo Simmons, the father of fallen US Air Force Tech Sergeant Tyler H Simmons, recalled an emotional encounter with President Donald Trump at Dover Air Force Base, saying he witnessed a rare moment of empathy from the commander-in-chief.

Simmons, whose 28-year-old son was among six service members killed in a refueling plane crash in Iraq, said the meeting focused on honoring his son’s sacrifice rather than political messaging around the ongoing Iran war.

Father recalls Trump’s humanity

Recounting the interaction, Simmons said he introduced himself directly to Trump, telling him, “Yes, Mr Simmons, I know who you are.” He added, “Tyler Simmons was my only son… he paid the ultimate price,” noting that he was surprised to see visible emotion on the president’s face.

“His humanity showed in that moment,” Simmons told ABC 6, explaining that Trump responded, “I can respect a man that can look the president in the face and tell him exactly what he thinks.” 

Simmons said Trump expressed condolences and gratitude for his son’s service, adding that the purpose of the meeting was to honor Tyler and allow officials to pay their respects to the family.

Pete Hegseth’s remarks differ

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who also met the families at Dover on March 22, said during a press briefing that the message from relatives was one of resolve.

“What I heard through tears, through hugs, through strength and through unbreakable resolve was the same from family after family. They said, ‘Finish this. Honor their sacrifice. Do not waver. Do not stop until the job is done,’” Hegseth said.

However, Simmons offered a different account of his own conversation.

“I can’t speak for the other families. When he spoke to me, that was not something we talked about,” he told NBC News.

Asked whether he urged leaders to continue the war effort, Simmons said, “No, I didn’t say anything along those lines.”

Father raises questions on war

A 60-year-old music teacher from Columbus, Ohio, Simmons said he has lingering concerns about the conflict and lacks enough information to form firm conclusions.

“I understand there’s a lot of peril that goes into making decisions like this, and I just certainly hope the decisions being made are necessary,” he said of his conversation with Hegseth.

“Who wants war?” he added. “Sometimes it’s a necessity, and I just don’t know what’s going on.”

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the defense secretary “has the utmost respect for our Gold Star families” and noted that conversations at Dover remain private.

White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said Trump “grieved” with the families and expressed “the deep gratitude of our entire nation.” Simmons said he last spoke to his son a day before the fatal crash, recalling that Tyler told him “how much he loved me.”

He described his son as someone with a “magnetic personality” who “never met any strangers.” 

“He’d walk into the room, and it would be immediately illuminated,” Simmons said, adding that Tyler had hoped to become a commercial pilot after his military service.