Over the course of a 53-minute address, Trump engaged in a lively back-and-forth with the soldiers and offered a mix of administration updates and bravado. He linked his administration’s trade agenda to what he described as a broader mission to keep American forces out of foreign conflicts.
“When we don’t get you involved, it’s a good thing,” Trump told the sailors. “People want to get you involved, but we stopped a lot of those wars based on trade. They’re getting ready to fight, and we tell them: ‘No more trade with the U.S.’”
And Trump touted news he said he’d received from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that Toyota plans to invest $10 billion in new U.S. auto plants. He also said the first batch of missiles for Japan’s F-35 jets would be delivered this week.
Takaichi, who spoke briefly before Trump, invoked the pair’s shared friendship with her predecessor, recalling Trump’s 2019 visit to Yokosuka with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
“Together once again,” she said, “we reaffirm our determination to keep the Indo-Pacific free and open, as a foundation for peace and prosperity across the entire region.”
Trump worked the crowd, calling out groups by their function on the ship — the “white shirts” who handle safety, “blue shirts” who run equipment, and “yellow shirts” who direct aircraft. Each mention drew cheers from different corners of the hangar.