President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he is supporting “across-the-board pay raises” for all members of the U.S. military and that his administration is making the “largest ever investment” in the military.
Celebrating the 250th birthday of the U.S. Navy during a speech at Norfolk Naval Base on Sunday, Trump said, “We’re gathered on this storied waterfront to celebrate 250 years of strength, tenacity, and unwavering courage by the greatest fighting force… [to] roam the seas — the United States Navy.”
Emphasizing the military dominance of the U.S. Navy, the president said, “There’s nothing in the world like it.”
Reflecting on the strength of the U.S. Navy over its 250 years of service, Trump said, “The instant a US carrier, cruiser, or destroyer breaks across the horizon, every tyrant and adversary on the planet knows their choice is very simple: it’s leave America in peace, or be blown up in fire and fury never seen before.”
During Sunday’s speech at Norfolk Naval Base, Trump promised to “always stand” for the members of the U.S. Navy as commander-in-chief and assured the service members that they would be taken care of despite the ongoing federal government shutdown. Trump also announced his support for increasing wages for all American service members.
“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,” the president said. “It’s all coming. It’s coming. And even more because I’m supporting the across-the-board pay raises for every sailor and service member of the United States Armed Forces.”
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Trump described Democrat leaders, who have refused to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government, as a “little gnat that’s on our shoulder.” The president explained that while Democrats “want to give all of our money to illegal aliens that pour into the country,” he has “pledged the largest ever investment in our military’s history.”
The president explained that his administration is spending more than $1 trillion across the U.S. military, which will include the expansion of the U.S. Navy. Trump added, “We’re going to be building lots of ships and doing a lot of things that you haven’t seen happen for 35 years.”
The White House shared pictures of the president’s visit at Norfolk Naval Base on Sunday, alongside the caption, “250 years of the greatest fighting force ever to roam the seas — THE UNITED STATES NAVY.”
