President Trump Participates in a Troop Visit and Remarks on the USS George Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump.

And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me. And I'll gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today. 'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA.

Well thank you very much, a big hello, this is a special group of patriots, champions, winners, you are winners. Oh, I'd love to have your job. And a very special hello to the greatest sailors anywhere in the seas, the incredible men and women of the United States Navy, very special people. It's a great honor to be here. I'm thrilled to be here among thousands of proud American patriots aboard the 100,000 tons, that's a lot of tonnage, forward deployed symbol of American might, power and prestige, the legendary USS George Washington. [04:57] We've come this afternoon to celebrate the strength and the skill and service of everyone on this ship. I want to tell you that you are special people and we're gonna have a little fun, and I'm gonna tell you how great our country is and how well we're doing. I want to recognize a man that you all know well, he was formerly our Secretary of Defense but now he is proudly known as our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth. He's been incredible, thank you very much Pete, you gave up a lot, we appreciate it. [06:18] And unlike past administrations we will not be politically correct. When it comes to defending the United States we're no longer politically correct. From now on, if we're in a war we're going to win the war, we're going to win it like nobody ever before. We're also very honored to be joined by hundreds of our incredible Japanese partners and they are incredible, thank you very much. The cherished alliance between the United States and Japan is one of the most remarkable relationships in the entire world. It's a foundation of peace and security in the Pacific. I have a really great respect for the new and incredible Prime Minister, the first female Prime Minister in the history of Japan, Madam Prime Minister, please say a few words please.

(Japanese segment)

This year marks the US Navy's semi-quincentennial anniversary. As we celebrate the important milestone, I'm truly honored to have this opportunity to deliver remarks with President Trump aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, a symbol of protecting freedom and peace in this region.

(Japanese segment)

First and foremost, I would like to express my deep respect and sincere gratitude to all the men and women in uniform from Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the US Forces Japan for your dedication and commitment to safeguard peace and security of our nation and the region day and night.

(Japanese segment)

Six years ago at this same place, here in Yokosuka city, the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Trump stood side by side and demonstrated their resolve that Japan and the United States would join hands to ensure peace and security in this region.

(Japanese segment)

Now as the two commanders in chief of Japan and the United States stand together once again, I have renewed my determination to carry forward that resolve and to make the Indo-Pacific free and open so that it will serve as the foundation of peace and prosperity for the entire region.

(Japanese segment)

Now we are facing an unprecedented severe security environment. Peace cannot be preserved by words alone. It can be protected only when there is an unwavering determination and action.

(Japanese segment)

From where we stand, we can see Maritime Self-Defense Force Mogami and Maya, vessels of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force, and USS George Washington have conducted numerous joint exercises. Just as importantly, there are so many Japanese and American personnel working for logistics and maintenance here in Yokosuka. There's no doubt that such multilayered Japan-US cooperation is what makes it possible for us to ensure the credibility of our two nations' deterrence and response capabilities.

(Japanese segment)

So let me reiterate my unwavering determination here. Japan is committed to fundamentally reinforce its defense capabilities and Japan is ready to contribute even more proactively to peace and stability of the region.

(Japanese segment)

Through these efforts, together with President Trump, I am determined to elevate the Japan-US alliance, which has already become the greatest alliance in the world, to even greater heights.

(Japanese segment)

Japan and the United States will advance together with our sails raised high across a free and open sea. And I am very confident that the sea route from Yokosuka will make our bond even stronger and bring our two nations on the path to a shining future. Thank you.

That was beautiful, thank you very much. And we will have a long, good relationship and we'll have fun doing it. She's tough to negotiate with, I want to tell you. I'm delighted to report that I've just approved the first batch of missiles to be delivered to the Japanese Self-Defense Forces for Japan's F-35s and they're coming this week, so they're ahead of schedule. [16:40] I want to thank Senator, former Senator, a great gentleman, I think he was born for it, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, thank you very much Marco. Ambassador George Glass, thank you very much. Many of our outstanding uniformed leaders are with us today including Admiral Samuel Paparo, General Stephen Jost, Vice Admiral Fred Kacher, and Rear Admiral Erik Eslich. And of course your command triad aboard the George Washington, Captain Timothy Waites and your XO Captain Patrick Blythe. And one of the most important people on the ship, Command Master Chief Tony Roberts, thank you Tony. [19:28] As many of you know, this month we're celebrating 250 years of courage and pride, honor and victory by the United States Navy. Three weeks ago, Melania and I witnessed an unforgettable display of pure American dominance at sea in Norfolk. One thing was clear, no enemy will ever even dream of threatening America's Navy, there's no Navy even close. If they do, the American sailor stands ready to crush them and sink them and wreck them and blast them into oblivion. [21:11] The United States is blessed with the strongest military in the history of the world. Above all, it's the best people, it's all about the people. I never forget that our ultimate strength does not come from equipment, it comes from the men and women of the rank and file. Everything now in our country is based on merit and that's why I look at you and I see nothing but merit. I'm also supporting an across-the-board pay raise for every sailor and service member in the United States Armed Forces. [23:46] And because I heard that the sailors on the George Washington took a hit to your family separation pay by returning early for this event, at my direction we're going to make sure that you receive the full amount that you were owed for the deployment. I always felt that the Navy is a very special group of people and I see it when I see you. After years of recruiting shortages, we have waiting lists with record numbers trying to join the US Navy. 2025 was the Navy's single best recruiting year in many generations. [26:11] One year ago I was campaigning, and look at all the things that we've done since this unbelievable day, November 5th. When we won it all changed and we went from a country that wasn't respected to having the hottest country anywhere in the world. Every sailor aboard this ship has answered a sacred call of duty. This ship is the frontline of American freedom in the Pacific. Every day you're taking risk to keep our country safe and to defend peace and security in this incredible part of the world. [28:13] I just left Malaysia, we stopped eight wars in eight months. But you carry out your mission bravely, you carry it out brilliantly and on behalf of all Americans I just want to say thank you very much. Two years ago, Naval Aircrewman Third Class James McCall and his crew found and helped rescue three missing Navy divers stranded at sea off the Japanese coast. James is with us today as a shipmate on this carrier. Crewman McCall, thank you very much for your incredible bravery, we salute you. Come up James.

Uh, I just want to say I appreciate all my fellow shipmates what I did back then in Iwakuni, it was heartbreaking for losing those loved ones down there, but we brought some back whenever we went down there and just God bless America and all my fellow shipmates, appreciate it. And stay bad Larry.

Great job James, lot of bravery too. Each of you has a vital role to play, from the mechanics and engineers to the flight deck crew. I asked the Captain, catapults, which is better, electric or steam? (Crowd yells steam). Seriously, I'm putting out an order, when we build aircraft carriers it's steam for the catapult and it's hydraulic for the elevators, we'll never have a problem okay? They're trying so hard and they have something that's perfect, so we're gonna go back on that. Thank you very much. [35:54] And of course we cannot forget Team Badman, the pilots of Carrier Air Wing Five. They say the hardest thing to do is landing a plane on an aircraft carrier, and nobody embodies skill and nerve and swagger like a US Navy aviator. None of this would be possible without you. My first term we built the greatest economy in the history of the world and now we're doing it again but this time actually it's going to be much bigger. We have over 17 trillion dollars pouring into the United States from all over the world. [41:52] Toyota is going to be putting auto plants all over the United States to the tune of over 10 billion dollars. And it's because of November 5th, but it's also because of tariffs. The tariffs are having people go into our country and spend tremendous numbers like we've never seen and that brings jobs. We have the most secure border in American history. If you don't have borders, you don't have a country and now we have a border the likes of which this country has never seen before. [45:30] And we're also straightening out our cities. Now it's safe as there is anywhere in the country, the crime is down to almost nothing. Whether people like that or not that's what we're doing. And you've been watching what our missiles do. The drug cartels have waged war on America and finally we're waging war on the cartels. We've almost stopped completely the drugs coming in by sea. And now we'll stop the drugs coming in by land. More importantly we're ending wars all over this planet. [51:24] After years of crippling inflation, gasoline prices are way down, grocery prices are way down. Inflation has been defeated and workers' wages are raising at the fastest pace in 60 years. I respect you and I love you and I'm giving everything I have to make sure that when you get home you find an America that is safe and proud and sovereign and free. For two and a half centuries America's Navy has preserved the vision of George Washington: First in war, first in peace.

first in war, first in peace, first in wealth, first in power, and first in freedom. Together with our incredible Japanese allies and all of our allies all over the world we stand strong, we stand proud, we will stand taller than we've ever stood before. I want to thank everybody at the USS George Washington and the US Forces Japan, God bless our military, God bless Japan, God bless the United States of America and God bless our Navy. Thank you everybody.