The U.S. television network Fox News issued a public apology after broadcasting outdated footage of Donald Trump during coverage of a solemn military ceremony in which the remains of six U.S. service members killed in the conflict with Iran were received.
The event, known in U.S. military protocol as a dignified transfer, took place on March 7 at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. In these ceremonies, flag-draped coffins are transferred from the military aircraft to funeral vehicles in the presence of officials and the families of the fallen service members (Associated Press, 2026).
During the ceremony, Trump attended alongside Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance. The president drew criticism on social media and in several media outlets because he wore a white baseball cap with the inscription “USA,” an accessory associated with his political brand, while paying tribute to the fallen soldiers (The Guardian, 2026).
However, during a subsequent broadcast on Sunday, Fox News aired archival footage from a previous ceremony in which Trump appeared without a hat. The footage was presented as if it corresponded to the ceremony held the previous day, prompting criticism and accusations of manipulation on social media and among media analysts (Poynter Institute, 2026).
Fox News host Griff Jenkins later acknowledged the mistake during the broadcast, stating that the network had inadvertently aired older footage due to an error in the video selection process during production. Jenkins also expressed condolences to the families of the fallen service members and said the network deeply regretted the mistake (Associated Press, 2026).
Despite the official apology, several observers argued that the incident is difficult to explain purely as a technical error, given that Trump’s decision to wear a baseball cap had become one of the most widely discussed aspects of the ceremony (The Daily Beast, 2026).
References
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Associated Press. (2026, March 9). Fox News apologizes for showing old video of a hatless Donald Trump at a dignified transfer ceremony.
Associated Press. -
Poynter Institute. (2026, March 10). Fox News aired old footage of Trump honoring fallen troops.
Poynter Institute. -
The Guardian. (2026, March 8). Fox News uses old clip of Trump after he wore hat while saluting slain US soldiers.
The Guardian. -
The Daily Beast. (2026, March 9). Fox News forced to apologize after airing misleading Trump ceremony footage.
The Daily Beast.
