Donald Trump loves U.S. troops. That’s why this latest declaration is so important.
And Trump made a huge announcement about the U.S. military that’s a complete game-changer.
President Donald Trump fired up thousands of proud sailors and their families at Norfolk Naval Base on Sunday, marking the Navy’s monumental 250th birthday with a promise that’s music to every patriot’s ears: “across the board pay raises” for service members. In a speech that had the crowd roaring, Trump didn’t hold back, slamming the Democrats for the ongoing federal shutdown that’s grinding the government to a halt.
Standing tall as commander in chief, Trump assured the brave men and women in uniform that he’s got their backs, no matter what obstacles the left throws in the way. He called out the opposition as nothing more than “a little gnat on our shoulder called the Democrats,” brushing them off like the irritants they are while focusing on what really matters—supporting U.S. troops.
“The US Navy always stands for America, and as your commander in chief I will always stand for you, I promise you that,” Trump declared.
Trump didn’t stop there. He tackled the shutdown head-on, vowing that despite the mess created by Democrat stonewalling, every service member will get paid in full—and then some. “And I want you to know that despite the Democrat-induced shutdown, we will get our service members every last penny, don’t worry about that. It’s all coming, and even more because I’m supporting the across the board pay raises for every sailor and service member in the United States armed forces.”
The announcement sparked thunderous applause, building on Trump’s recent chat with top generals in Virginia where he outlined a solid 3.8% raise for all military personnel. It’s a well-deserved reward for those who risk everything to keep America safe.
Shifting gears to the big picture, Trump highlighted his massive $1 trillion push to rebuild America’s military might. From new ships forged right here on American soil to pumping life back into our shipyards, he’s making sure U.S. forces are equipped to dominate any threat.
“We’re going to be building lots of ships and doing lots of things that you haven’t seen happen for 35 years,” Trump proclaimed, painting a vision of a resurgent Navy that’s the envy of the world.
He pledged to “soon revitalize our shipyards with hundreds of millions of dollars in new investments and new people coming from all around the world and they’re going to build ships in America. We want them built in America.”
But Trump made it crystal clear: none of this happens until the Democrats quit wasting taxpayer dollars on handouts to illegal aliens. The shutdown, which kicked off on October 1 over the 2026 budget battles, has left real Americans— including the troops—high and dry while the left plays games.
This partisan deadlock has hit government workers hard, with Republicans fighting for secure borders and fiscal sanity against Democrat demands that funnel money to non-citizens. Trump’s message? Enough is enough—it’s time to put Americans first, not invaders crossing the borders unchecked.
Wrapping up his rousing address, Trump showered praise on the Navy for smashing recruitment records in 2025, proving that true patriots are stepping up under his leadership. “America’s sailors have proven time and again that our Navy does just the best job there is,” he boasted.
He went on to celebrate the Navy’s unmatched dominance: “We own the skies, we stalk the depths, and we rule the seas. We don’t know anything about defeat. In every era and every part of this globe, our sailors have fought with courage in their hearts, patriotism in their souls and salt water in their veins.”
Looking out at the sea of uniforms, Trump inspired the crowd with a call to arms: “And standing before all of you today, I know that whenever our nation is threatened and whenever they need help, whenever duty calls, American sailors will hoist our flag high and they will rally….with your help we will fight, fight, fight and we will win, win win, because of you our navy and our country will always be proud and righteous and mighty and free.”
The event wasn’t just about Trump—First Lady Melania Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth joined in, delivering short but powerful tributes to the Navy’s unwavering commitment and the president’s bold investments in protecting American freedoms from all foes.
Hegseth doubled down on the promises, outlining plans for more sailors, submarines, ships, and ammo to keep U.S. enemies at bay.
“President Trump has made our mission clear, America first and peace through common sense at every turn,” he said, emphasizing the no-nonsense approach that’s rebuilding American strength.
He hailed the Navy and Marines as the backbone of the nation’s grit, adding, “Nobody in the world does it better than the United States Navy. Your diversity is not your strength, your strength is your unity of purpose, your shared mission, your love of country.”
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
