BREAKING: Trump Feared Iranian Ambush After Downed US Airman Radioed “God is Good”
Why did the phrase "God is good" almost stop a U.S. rescue mission? President Trump opens up about the secret nighttime operation involving 200 special ops troops to extract a downed pilot from behind enemy lines in Iran.
President Donald Trump revealed dramatic new details from Saturday’s high-risk rescue mission inside Iran, saying he initially believed Iranian forces were trying to lure American troops into a deadly ambush.
In an exclusive interview with Axios published Sunday, Trump described the tense moments after an F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down by Iranian forces on Friday. One crew member was rescued quickly under fire, but the weapons systems officer evaded capture for more than 24 hours while hundreds of Iranian troops and civilians hunted him in rugged mountain terrain.
During the operation, the downed officer transmitted a radio message that included the phrase “God is good.”
Trump told Axios the wording immediately raised red flags:
“What he said on the radio sounded like something a Muslim would say.”
The President worried it could be a trap staged by the Iranians. Defense officials quickly reassured him that the airman was deeply religious and the expression was completely in line with his character.
The complex nighttime rescue involved roughly 200 U.S. special operations troops. Trump called the successful extraction of the injured officer, with no American casualties, an “Easter Miracle.”
A U.S. defense official confirmed Trump’s account to Axios, noting the exact phrase was “God is good” the same wording Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X Sunday morning.
Trump added that Iran “got lucky” with the shoulder-fired missile that downed the jet, and that Israel provided limited intelligence and support during the search.