Melania Trump greets sailors with 'Hooyah' at Navy's 250th anniversary celebration

Melania Trump hailed the generations of sailors who have kept America free during her speech at the event marking the Navy's 250th birthday
PUBLISHED OCT 6, 2025
Melania Trump began her speech on Sunday, October 5, by shouting 'Hooyah Navy' three times as the sailors repeated it after her (Getty Images)
Melania Trump began her speech on Sunday, October 5, by shouting 'Hooyah Navy' three times as the sailors repeated it after her (Getty Images)


 

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA: First lady Melania Trump greeted sailors with a "Hooyah" on Sunday, October 5, during an event celebrating the US Navy's 250th anniversary in Norfolk, Virginia.

She donned a brown leather bomber jacket for the weekend’s event, which she paired with a collared white shirt and dark wash denim jeans.

First Lady Melania Trump takes the stage as she prepares to make remarks during the Navy 250 Celebration aboard the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier on October 5, 2025 in Norfolk, Virginia. President Trump is visiting Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia for a celebration of the 250th birthday of the U.S. Navy. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
First lady Melania Trump takes the stage as she prepares to make remarks during the Navy 250 Celebration aboard the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier on October 5, 2025, in Norfolk, Virginia (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Melania Trump says Navy's 'strength, bravery and sacrifice inspires us all'

Melania Trump began her speech on Sunday by shouting "Hooyah Navy" three times as the sailors repeated it after her.

She said during her speech, "Generations of sailors have kept America free because of your presence on the high seas."

"Your strength, bravery and sacrifice inspires us all," the first lady added.



 

The former model completed her look with aviator shades and added a white baseball cap with "USA" embroidered across the front.

Melania was joined by President Donald Trump for their visit to the USS George HW Bush, where they talked to sailors.

The duo was treated to a military demonstration while standing on the deck of the aircraft carrier before POTUS addressed the crowd of an estimated 10,000 people.

First Lady Melania Trump and U.S. President Donald Trump disembark from Air Force One after landing at Naval Station Norfolk before they visit the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier on October 5, 2025 in Norfolk, Virginia. President Trump is visiting Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia for a celebration of the 250th birthday of the U.S. Navy. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
First lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump disembark from Air Force One after landing at Naval Station Norfolk before they visit the USS George HW Bush aircraft carrier on October 5, 2025, in Norfolk, Virginia (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

During his speech, Trump took aim at democratic lawmakers for the current government shutdown.

"I want you to know that … we will get our service members every last penny. Don’t worry about it," the commander-in-chief said.

POTUS promises pay raises for sailors and service members

During his speech, Donald Trump also endorsed pay raises for the military as he slammed Democrats for the furloughing of both civilian and enlisted Americans who get their payments from the government.

He described Democrats as “gnats” in response to their refusal to support reopening the government without Republicans voting to extend health care plan subsidies.

First Lady Melania Trump claps as U.S. President Donald Trump raises his fist after making remarks during the Navy 250 Celebration at the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier on October 5, 2025 in Norfolk, Virginia. President Trump is visiting Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia for a celebration of the 250th birthday of the U.S. Navy. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
First lady Melania Trump claps as President Donald Trump raises his fist after making remarks during the Navy 250 Celebration at the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier on October 5, 2025, in Norfolk, Virginia (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

"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 ensured. "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."



 

Moreover, the Republican leader slammed Democrats on issues like immigration and talked about other topics, like his proclamation attempting to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America".

Trump further took the opportunity to talk about his "takeover" of Washington, DC, by deploying hundreds of National Guard troops and flooding the streets with members of federal law enforcement, including ICE.

President Donald Trump makes remarks during the Navy 250 Celebration aboard the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier on October 5, 2025 in Norfolk, Virginia. President Trump is visiting Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia for a celebration of the 250th birthday of the U.S. Navy. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump makes remarks during the Navy 250 Celebration aboard the USS Harry S Truman aircraft carrier on October 5, 2025, in Norfolk, Virginia (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

"We’re doing it like nobody’s ever done it before. So I just want to tell you: you’re very close to DC; the restaurants are thriving. The restaurants were dying. They were closing, one after another. Now they’re opening up, they’re thriving," the POTUS insisted. "It’s a safe place now, our nation’s capital."

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