Whoopi Goldberg has criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for wearing a hat while paying tribute to fallen soldiers. The incident in question occurred during the dignified transfer last week in Delaware while honoring the six soldiers killed in an Iranian drone strike in the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Whoopi Goldberg blasts Donald Trump for keeping hat on while honoring dead soldiers
During The View’s Monday, March 9, episode, co-host Whoopi Goldberg heavily criticized Donald Trump for honoring the dead soldiers at the dignified transfer without removing his hat.
“I will say this: It really bugged me, and maybe I’m just being picky,” Goldberg said. “When those caskets came off that plane…” She then addressed Trump and said, “Take your damn hat off.” The Oscar-winning actress added, “I didn’t understand why nobody pulled his coat tail and said, ‘Sir, just out of respect?’”
Subsequently, Sunny Hostin recalled that then-U.S. President Barack Obama was the first president to “preside over the dignified transfer.” She added that Obama stood for 45 minutes without a hat on during the ceremony.
Hostin also noted that it wasn’t about the president back then, but about the soldiers who gave their lives for the country. The co-host then remarked that she found last week’s transfer to be “all about Trump,” adding that it was “despicable.”
On March 7, 2026, Trump attended the dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for six US service members killed in an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait. Trump wore a white “USA” baseball cap throughout, which sparked a wave of criticism.
Michael Steele, former chair of the Republican National Committee, posted, “This fool has ABSOLUTELY no sense of dignity or appreciation for the moment. It is called the Dignified Transfer for a reason. Take your damn hat off!!”
Mary L Trump, the president’s niece, also criticized him. She wrote, “With all of the horrors he’s unleashing on the world, I know this is not the biggest deal, but he is such an unspeakable disgrace.”
To make matters worse, Fox News aired footage of an old dignified transfer, in which Trump was not wearing a cap. This further garnered more online backlash.
However, the broadcast has since addressed the situation and has issued an apology.
Originally reported by Harsha Panduranga on ComingSoon.
