The Pentagon released data Friday showing at least 365 service members have been wounded in action since the start of Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28. 

Among those injured in the war with Iran are 247 Army soldiers; 63 members of the Navy; 36 Air Force members and19 Marines.

The death toll remains at 13, according to the data.

President Trump on Friday declined to comment on what he would do if the Iranian regime captures or harms the missing American F-15 airman shot down in the Middle East. 

“Well, I can't comment on it because — we hope that's not going to happen," Trump said in a brief interview with The Independent. 

The fighter jet had two crew members — one of whom has been located and rescued by US forces.  American troops are still searching for the other crew member.

President Trump said peace talks won't be affected after Iran shot down an American fighter jet, he told NBC News.

In a brief phone interview with Garrett Haake, Trump refused to discuss the specifics of the rescue mission of two servicemembers.

And when asked if the hostilities would affect negotiations with Iran, the president said no.

“No, not at all. No, it’s war. We’re in war."

Trump also expressed frustration about the media coverage of the search and rescue efforts.

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Two US military helicopters that were involved in the F-15 search and rescue efforts were struck by Iranian fire, according to reports.

The service members onboard are all safe, a US official told NBC News.

Iranian state-linked media also claimed an American helicopter was hit as part of the efforts to recover the two American pilots inside an F-15E fighter jet that Iran downed.

One pilot has been rescued and the second is still missing, per reports.

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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is traveling to Washington, DC, next week for a meeting with President Trump on April 8.

Rutte will also give a speech the following day at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Institute.

President Trump has been briefed on the downed U.S. fighter jet in Iran.

"The president has been briefed," press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a brief statement.

US forces launched a search-and-rescue operation after an American F-15E was shot down and a bounty was placed on the missing pilots.

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Melania Trump teased preparations for the upcoming state dinner for King Charles III.

In a short video posted to the first lady's social media account, Melania Trump is seen going over place settings and making lists ahead of the April 28th event. Flower arrangements are also shown.

"Precision in every detail," the post read, featuring the American and British flags. Then it featured the dinner date: 04.28.26

The British Royal Family and the White House announced earlier this week that the King and Queen will visit the United States from April 27th through 29th.

In addition to the state dinner, King Charles will address a joint session of Congress and make a day trip to New York.

President Trump said Friday that the US could "make a fortune" if the US took the Strait of Hormuz and assumed control of oil exiting the Persian Gulf.

"With a little more time, we can easily OPEN THE HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE. IT WOULD BE A 'GUSHER' FOR THE WORLD??? President DONALD J. TRUMP," he posted on his Truth Social.

The Trump administration has already assumed control of Venezuela's oil exports — after the successful capture and extradition of strongman Nicolas Maduro earlier this year.

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President Trump announced that raids on fraudsters in Los Angeles have begun on Friday, as part of an effort to halt the "theft of Taxpayer Money" — and hopefully "balance" the federal budget.

The president posted on his Truth Social that the fraudulent use of federal funding is "so large" that his administration's task force focused on the problem "would literally be able to balance our American Budget" if successful in its efforts.

"Vice President JD Vance is now in charge of 'FRAUD' in the United States. It is massive and pervasive, and the job he will be doing, in conjunction with many great people within the Trump Administration, will be a major factor in how great the future of our Country will be," Trump added

"We will call him the 'FRAUD CZAR,' and his focus will be 'EVERYWHERE,' but primarily in those Blue States where CROOKED DEMOCRAT POLITICIANS, like those in California, Illinois, Minnesota (Somalia beware!), Maine, New York, and many others, have had a 'free for all' in the unprecedented theft of Taxpayer Money."

The White House released its 2027 budget request to Congress on Friday — with a $1.5 trillion request for the Department of War, upping defense spending by $445 billion from the previous year.

Of that, $1.15 trillion is marked as discretionary spending and at least $350 billion of that sum will be provided via a process known as budget reconciliation to expand the defense industrial base amid the ongoing war with Iran.

The Office of Management and Budget has also requested a $73 billion cut in non-defense spending, which is 10% lower than the 2026 fiscal year.

The defense budget includes a pay bump of between six and seven percent for all troops, funds to funds for "critical munitions," development of President Trump's "Golden Dome" missile defense system, investments "in critical minerals and domestic supply chains," as well as $65.8 billion for shipbuilding.

"This amount exceeds even the Reagan buildup by approaching the historic increases just prior to World War II, a level that recognizes the current global threat environment and restores the readiness and lethality of our forces," stated an OMB fact sheet.

"The whole of government, whole of nation shipbuilding order of 41 ships alone represents the largest demand signal to the maritime industrial base since the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt."

Additionally, the Department of War is expected to reduce Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program spending by "millions of dollars" more after eliminating more than $1.6 billion.

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Several Iranian diplomats have been expelled from the US in the past six months, according to a State Department official.

"We can confirm that the United States delivered a Note Verbale on December 4 regarding the status of certain Iranian personnel at the UN," the official said. "For privacy and security reasons, we do not comment on the specifics of diplomatic personnel actions."

"This action occurred well before the protests in Iran and is unrelated to those events," the official added.

Iran's deputy ambassador Saadat Aghajani was told to depart in December and two other members of the Iranian Mission to the UN were asked to leave the country two months before, Axios reported Friday.

The Iranian deputy ambassador was removed under what's known as "section 13 procedures," which allows for their removal for national security reasons or alleged espionage efforts against the US.

Aghajani's children were also later forced to exit.

State Department reps did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Diplomats from Tehran have been limited in their movements outside the mission to within a 25 mile radius of the UN building in midtown Manhattan.

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Repairs and maintenance on the USS Gerald R. Ford have been completed, and the ship is returning to national security operations, the Navy announced Thursday. 

The world’s largest aircraft carrier departed the Port of Split, Croatia, following a five-day port visit. 

The $13 billion ship had been participating in Operation Epic Fury but was sidelined last week after a fire damaged its laundry facilities and its sewage system failed. 

“Gerald R. Ford remains poised for full mission tasking in support of national objectives in any area of operation,” the Navy said in a statement. 

Sailors “took time to enjoy some liberty in Croatia’s historic and hospitable city, as well as go on tours and events scheduled by the ship’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation team” during the short break from war, the Navy said. 

“Additionally, the ship completed scheduled repairs and received supplies to sustain operations,” the statement continued, noting that the investigation into the fire is ongoing.