Trump Promises Military Pay Raises Amid Government Shutdown at US Navy 250th Anniversary

President Donald Trump pledged to provide across-the-board pay raises for all U.S. military service members despite the ongoing government shutdown, which he blamed on Democrats. Speaking at the 250th anniversary celebration of the U.S. Navy at Naval Station Norfolk, Trump assured service members that they would receive every penny owed and highlighted his support for increased military funding, including a $1 trillion investment to build ships and revitalize shipyards. He criticized Democrats for the shutdown that has left thousands of federal workers and military personnel without pay and accused them of prioritizing illegal immigrants over American workers. Trump's speech mixed patriotic praise for the Navy with political attacks, including attempts to rally the crowd against his political opponents and unrelated topics such as renaming the Gulf of Mexico. The president's remarks were met with cheers from the assembled sailors and cadets, despite some controversial moments, as he emphasized the Navy's historical strength and recent recruitment successes. Overall, Trump framed the Navy celebration as both a tribute and a political rally against Democrats during the federal funding impasse.