Over the course of a 53-minute speech, Trump engaged in a lively back-and-forth with the soldiers, offering a mix of administrative updates and bravado. He linked his administration’s trade agenda to what he described as a broader mission to keep U.S. troops out of foreign conflicts.
“If we don’t get you involved, that’s a good thing,” Trump told the sailors. “People want to get you involved, but we’ve stopped a lot of those wars that were based on trade. They’re getting ready to fight and we’re telling them, ‘No more trade with the US.’”
And Trump touted news he received from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi that Toyota plans to invest $10 billion in new U.S. car factories. He also said the first batch of missiles for Japan’s F-35 jets would be delivered this week.
Takaichi, speaking shortly before Trump, invoked the couple’s shared friendship with her predecessor and recalled Trump’s 2019 visit to Yokosuka with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
“Together once again,” she said, “we reaffirm our resolve to keep the Indo-Pacific free and open, as a foundation for peace and prosperity across the region.”
Trump worked the crowd, calling groups according to their roles on the ship — the “white shirts” who handle security, the “blue shirts” who run equipment, and the “yellow shirts” who fly planes. Each mention drew cheers from various corners of the hangar.
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