Trump marks Navy’s 250th anniversary despite US shutdown
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Trump celebrated the Navy’s 250th anniversary in Norfolk amid a government shutdown, mixing military tributes with campaign rhetoric and policy messaging.
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President Donald Trump arrives to speak during a celebration for the 250th anniversary of the US Navy aboard the USS Harry S. Truman at Naval Station Norfolk on October 5, 2025. (AP)
Despite the ongoing US government shutdown, President Donald Trump held a rally-style event in Norfolk, Virginia, on Sunday to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Navy, using the occasion to praise both the armed forces and his administration.
Speaking before a crowd of roughly 10,000 people, Trump delivered remarks that blended patriotic tributes with campaign-style rhetoric, closing the event with his signature walk-off song, “YMCA” by the Village People.
“Let’s face it, this is a rally,” Trump told the cheering crowd, as he lauded the Navy for its “unmatched record of victory at sea.”
Shutdown overshadows military celebration
The event came as the government shutdown entered its fifth day, leaving military personnel and federal employees working without pay. Trump used the moment to attack Democratic lawmakers, whom he blamed for the shutdown, while promising troops that “every last penny” owed to them would be paid.
“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 applause from the audience.
The shutdown, triggered by partisan budget disputes, has stalled infrastructure and energy projects in Democratic-led states and furloughed thousands of federal employees. Senate Democrats accused the administration of undermining the budget process by refusing to spend congressionally approved funds, while Trump has suggested layoffs at what he called “Democrat agencies.”
Naval ceremony and military demonstration
Trump was joined by First Lady Melania Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Navy Secretary John Phelan, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, and Congressman Ronny Jackson, a former Navy rear admiral.
During his visit, Trump toured the USS George H.W. Bush, met sailors, and handed out challenge coins. He later observed a naval demonstration aboard the aircraft carrier, featuring missile launches, SEAL helicopter descents, and fighter jet takeoffs into the Atlantic.
Expanding the military’s role
The Norfolk visit follows Trump’s recent meeting with global military leaders in Virginia, where he and Defense Secretary Hegseth announced plans to expand the military’s domestic role. Trump proposed using US cities as training grounds for troops, citing the need to confront what he called an “invasion from within.”
Hegseth, meanwhile, declared an end to “woke culture” within the armed forces, unveiling new directives that include uniform physical fitness standards for all personnel.
The Trump administration has increasingly tied its political platform to the military, leveraging it to project strength at home and abroad. The president has also ordered naval strikes against drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean, describing them as part of a broader campaign to combat organized crime.
Regarding Gaza, Trump announced that talks with Hamas are proceeding at a very fast and successful pace, confirming that technical teams will meet again in Egypt on Monday to complete the final details of the agreement in preparation for the completion of the first phase of the prisoner exchange agreement and the end of the war this week.
The US president pointed out that he will continue to follow up on the Gaza issue, noting that "time is of the essence," otherwise further spilling of blood will take place, something he asserted no one wants to see.
