Trump doesn't let shutdown interfere with celebrating Navy's 250th
anniversary at rally-like event
[October 06, 2025]
By JOSH BOAK and BEN FINLEY
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — President Donald Trump did not let the government
shutdown interfere with a stop in Norfolk, Virginia, on Sunday to salute
the Navy as it celebrates its 250th anniversary — using his speech to
praise both the Navy and himself.
Trump delivered remarks that by his own recognition bordered on making
it more like a campaign event, generating some cheers from the crowd
before closing out with a recording of his theme song, “YMCA” by Village
People.
“Let’s face it, this is a rally,” Trump told the crowd of about 10,000
sailors in their dress-white uniforms.
Navy planes flew overhead as the president began his speech, fueling the
crowd’s energy and prompting many of the sailors to chant “USA! USA!
USA!”
The president spoke on a pier in between two towering Navy vessels, an
aircraft carrier and an amphibious assault ship. The carrier displayed a
Navy fighter jet, which had the words “President Donald J. Trump
‘45-47’” printed on the fuselage right under the cockpit window.
The Republican president criticized his political opponents and attacked
Democratic lawmakers as the shutdown entered its fifth day, causing
military personnel to work without pay until the government reopens.
“I want you to know that despite the current Democrat induced shutdown,
we will get our service members every last penny. Don’t worry about it,"
Trump said to cheers from the crowd.
The government shutdown that began Wednesday has sparked partisan blame
games as several thousand federal employees are furloughed and key
infrastructure and energy projects in Democratic-run areas such as New
York and Chicago have been put on hold. It lurked in the background of
the event as Trump praised a Navy that he said has “never failed to
hunt, kill and win.”
Senate Democrats rejected efforts to preserve a continuation of
government operations when the new budget year started on Wednesday.
They cited the lapse in subsidies that could cause health insurance
costs to climb rapidly for people who get coverage through the 2010
Affordable Care Act. Democratic lawmakers also have sought to reverse
cuts to Medicaid that Trump signed into law.
Democrats oppose Trump's move to have his administration decline to
spend congressionally approved funds, saying it undermines the budgeting
process, among other concerns. Meanwhile, Trump has explored laying off
federal workers at what he called “Democrat Agencies.”
Among those joining Trump for the festivities were first lady Melania
Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Navy Secretary John Phelan,
Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson,
R-Texas, a former Navy rear admiral who was a White House doctor during
Trump's first term.
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President Donald Trump speaks during a celebration for the 250th
anniversary of the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Harry S. Truman at Naval
Station Norfolk, Sunday Oct. 5, 2025 in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Alex
Brandon)
After his arrival in Norfolk, Trump went to the USS George H.W. Bush
and spoke to the sailors and handed out challenge coins.
The Trumps then watched a military demonstration while standing on
the deck of the aircraft carrier. Navy destroyers launched missiles
and fired shells into the Atlantic Ocean, Navy SEALs descended from
helicopters and fighter jets catapulted off.
The president has increasingly sought to leverage support from
within the military as he has escalated its role in American
society, asking troops to patrol the streets of U.S. cities,
including Los Angeles, Washington, Chicago, Memphis, Baltimore and
Portland, Oregon. California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Trump was
seeking to send his state's National Guard to Portland after the
administration's previous moves to deploy troops in the Oregon
National Guard were blocked in court.
1. In his June speechfor the 250th anniversary of the Army, Trump
similarly broke down presidential norms by calling protesters in Los
Angeles “animals” and “a foreign enemy,” claims that left some in
the audience feeling uneasy.
The sailors on Sunday were far more engaged and responsive to the
president’s jokes and political quips than the military’s top brass
were at a meeting on Tuesday at a base in Quantico, Virginia. They
had been abruptly summoned by Hegseth from across the globe.
In his speech to the generals, Trump proposed using U.S. cities as
training grounds for the armed forces and he spoke of needing
military might to combat what he called the “invasion from within.”
Hegseth declared an end to “woke” culture and announced new
directives for troops that include “gender-neutral” or “male-level”
standards for physical fitness.
The administration is seeking to reshape Pentagon culture and use
military resources for the president’s priorities, including
quelling domestic unrest and violent crime.
Trump has also engaged the military in an armed conflict with drug
cartels, leading to four strikes on boats in the Caribbean that
Washington says were involved in trafficking.
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Boak reported from Washington.
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