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US military identifies 2 soldiers killed during Iranian strikes in Jordan and 1 killed during drone detonation in Iraq

(CNN) — The Department of Defense on Monday identified two US soldiers who were killed in Iranian strikes in Jordan, and on Tuesday identified another soldier believed to be killed in the Jordan attack and a service member killed in Iraq.

1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, were killed as part of the Friday attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.

Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad, 28, is believed to have been killed in action during the same Friday attack in Jordan, according to the Pentagon. The soldier was previously listed as missing by US Central Command.

The department on Tuesday identified another service member who was killed in action during a controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone in Iraq. Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was killed on July 19.

Gonzales, of Carrollton, Texas, died Friday, the Defense Department said.

Feehan, who enlisted in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, but whose father told CNN he primarily lived in Georgia, died Saturday.

Feehan’s parents told CNN they are “completely heartbroken and devastated,” adding that their son was set to be married when he returned from deployment.

“We want America and the world to know Tyler lived life to the fullest and accomplished more in his 25 years than most complete in a lifetime,” Stephen and Shari Feehan said.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for the attacks in Jordan in a statement on Saturday. The Pentagon said the soldiers who died in Jordan were killed “during an enemy attack.” Other American service members suffered injuries, including four who had to be medically evacuated to a hospital in Jordan but have since been discharged, US Central Command said over the weekend.

The Pentagon said authorities would continue to investigate the attack.

The deaths, initially announced on Saturday, marked the first American casualties resulting from Iranian strikes since March.

Before the Pentagon identified Rampersad, it announced over the weekend that the US located unidentified remains of a missing service member in Jordan. The remains have yet to be conclusively identified, but the military believes it to be Rampersad.

A dignified transfer of the four service members will take place on Wednesday, according to an administration official.

The deaths bring the number of US service members who have died in the nearly five-month war to 18, including the soldier believed to have been killed in Jordan.

Six US Army Reserve soldiers were killed March 1 by a direct Iranian strike on a makeshift operations center at Kuwait’s Shuaiba port. Days later, an Army sergeant died after sustaining injuries during an attack in Saudi Arabia.

On March 12, six service members were killed when a US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker, a refueling aircraft, crashed in western Iraq, though the incident was “not due to hostile or friendly fire.”

A recent lull in fighting had given way to what has more resembled an all-out war over the past week, with the US targeting Iranian railways, roads and tunnels, while Iran has launched attacks against an expanding list of countries in the region.

Despite the attacks, officials held out hope for the possibility of a diplomatic solution over the weekend. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday the US “remains open” to talks, while an official representing Iran said they were similarly open to discussions.

President Donald Trump said Saturday that the deaths of the American service members were “a very sad thing.”

“We hate to see it happen,” he told NewsNation. “It’s in service to our country.”

CNN’s Francesca Hoffman contributed to this report.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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Taylor Swift’s music quietly removed from social media posts from Trump campaign, White House accounts

(CNN) — Olivia Rodrigo, Katy Perry, Noah Kahan and Sabrina Carpenter all have well-documented histories of speaking out against President Donald Trump. But when it comes to use of their music by the White House, not everyone is so vocal.In recent days, Taylor Swift’s music quietly disappeared from TikTok posts from the White House and “Team Trump” campaign accounts — without public condemnation, clapback or commenting from the singer, who is very protective of her brand.One post, which featured the president and first lady viewing fireworks over Swift’s song “August,” had its music changed to a country-inspired song with the lyrics, “I love Trump, I love Trump, Make America Great Again.” Others — including one that quotes lyrics from Swift’s “Father Figure” over images of Trump — say simply, “This sound isn’t available.”It’s unclear whether the threat of legal action loomed in the background or whether the pop star’s team communicated anger to the White House. A spokesperson for Swift did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.Swift has often been calculating about her activism and endorsements, mindful that weighing in on politics can upset her huge fan base.Others have taken a louder approach.When Perry’s “Firework” played “boom, boom, boom” over declassified images of military strikes on an eight-second TikTok video, the pop star said she was “deeply appalled” by its use, which she called “a complete violation of everything my song stands for.” The song has been removed from the post.Kahan weighed in when his hit “American Cars” was used alongside images of the president at a General Motors facility in Michigan.“Would never approve of my music being used in support of you or this administration,” he wrote in the comments section for the Instagram post, which subsequently had its music removed.Carpenter called the use of her hit “Juno” in a White House video depicting law enforcement apprehending individuals in apparent immigration actions “evil and disgusting.” That video was deleted from X.In a similar video posted by the Department of Homeland Security, media for one of Olivia Rodrigo’s songs, “All-American Bitch,” was disabled on Instagram, though it still appears on X. The singer-songwriter slammed the use of her song in a since-removed reply, writing, “Don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda.”This is not the first time Trump’s team has been under fire for using music without permission in its social media and at rallies, including by artists such as Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen and ABBA. A license generally is required to play music in a public setting like a political rally or on an official social media account.But pushing the envelope might be part of a broader strategy for the president’s social media team, which appears to be in on its own joke — directly tagging the pop superstar in one caption: “I’m sure @Taylor Swift is going to be super excited we used her song! #taylorswift #maga #august.”Social media posts that include music get increased engagement — likes, comments, shares and follows. And using the music of artists with active fan bases is likely to amplify that engagement.The Trump White House has reimagined its role on social media during the president’s second term, launching accounts that often push limits and troll Democrats. Unlike previous administrations, including Trump’s first, there are fewer layers of bureaucracy and approval chains before a post gets published, a White House official previously told CNN.That has prompted blowback, but it’s also allowed those accounts to be more nimble.Content on White House accounts, that official said, “looks like stuff people are used to consuming — but it’s refreshing coming from the government.”“It’s the government’s responsibility to meet people where they are, be as many places as they possibly can be, and communicate in the language that people understand,” the official said.The White House did not respond to CNN’s request for comment on Swift’s music removal and whether the counsel’s office has any concerns about legal recourse.For Swift, this is not a battle she wants to wage publicly right now.And she’s not the only major artist having her music taken down through a more subtle process. Bad Bunny’s music was recently removed from a pair of sizzle reel White House posts. Ardent Trump critic Jack White, who sued the president and his campaign for using “Seven Nation Army” on social media during the 2024 campaign, appeared to have the hit anthem removed once again from a hype video ahead of a recent Cabinet meeting. It remains to be seen whether Gloria Estefan’s “Conga” will remain the soundtrack to a military highlight reel posted Sunday.Trump has had a complicated relationship with Swift, unable to shake it off over the years. Last month, he compared his popularity on TikTok to Swift’s, claiming he was No. 1 on the site to her No. 11 (though he has roughly half her following). And though he’s repeatedly said he’s “not a fan,” he offered rare congratulations during a Cabinet meeting to Swift and now-husband Travis Kelce, calling her “a terrific person” upon their engagement.When Swift announced an endorsement for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump offered this all-caps response: “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!”But an old Facebook post from first lady Melania Trump may show that not even the president can resist Swift’s music. Long before any presidential run, and even before TikTok, Donald Trump was behind the wheel of a car with son Barron in the front seat. “Blank Space” was blaring on the speakers.The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
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