President Donald Trump vowed to move forward on Friday with plans to attend a Navy celebration this weekend at Naval Station Norfolk, honoring the military branch's 250th anniversary despite a government shutdown.
Top officials, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Navy Secretary John Phelan were expected to attend the event, which was moved to Sunday due to weather. While other public Navy events were curtailed or canceled due to the shutdown — some civilians working for the Navy were furloughed — active duty military personnel continue to work without pay. They're expected to receive retroactive pay once funding returns.
On Friday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he was proud to announce he'll host a "Salute to the Fleet" to honor the Navy's "250 years of MARITIME DOMINANCE!"
He then took a shot at Democratic lawmakers, whom he has blamed for the shutdown. Democrats have drawn a line in the sand over expiring health care subsidies, while Republicans insist they won't budge on what they call their "clean" continuing resolution.
"Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and the other Minority Radical Left Democrats tried their best, through the ridiculous Government Shutdown, to destroy this wonderful celebration of the U.S. Navy’s Birthday, and to stop our Military Servicemembers from celebrating American Naval History," wrote Trump. "However, I believe, 'THE SHOW MUST GO ON!'"
Trump said the Navy has planned the event for months, and that "despite the Democrats’ incompetence, I refuse to let them down as their Commander-in-Chief."
"This will be the largest Celebration in the History of the Navy. Thousands of our brave Active Duty Servicemembers and Military Families will be in attendance, and I look forward to this special day with all of them. See you on Sunday!"