OCTOBER 7, 2025 – Thousands of Sailors gathered at Naval Station Norfolk as part of America’s Navy 250 “Titans of the Sea” all-hands call celebration. Surrounded by the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) on Pier 14, Sailors, veterans, and their families joined together for a historic salute to the world’s most powerful Navy.
The guest of honor and keynote speaker was the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. Also in attendance were First Lady Melania Trump, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan, and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle.
“It is a true honor to be here with thousands of our nation’s finest Sailors at the largest naval facility in the entire world. We gather on this historic waterfront to celebrate 250 years of strength, tenacity and unwavering courage by the greatest fighting force,” said President Trump.
“In every era and every part of this globe, our Sailors have fought with courage in their hearts, patriotism in their souls, and salt water in their veins.”
Prior to the start of the pier events, the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) hosted a Titans of the Sea Presidential Review in the Atlantic Ocean for President Trump and his official party. The demonstration aired live on the piers at Naval Station Norfolk and showcased some of the Navy’s most advanced aircraft, ships, and weapon systems in action.
The units involved in the Presidential Review included George H. W. Bush, Virginia-class submarine USS Iowa (SSN 797), and guided-missile destroyers USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), USS Cole (DDG 67), USS Ross (DDG 71), USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), USS Mason (DDG 87), USS Farragut (DDG 99), and USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119). Navy SEALs assigned to Naval Special Warfare Group 2 executed a fast-rope insertion and boarding event on Gonzalez. Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 filled the skies above George H. W. Bush with a formation flyover, targeting drills, and several aerial demonstrations showcasing the unmatched capabilities of Naval Aviation.
“Two hundred and fifty years ago, the Continental Congress made a bold bet: who controls the seas, controls the future. This was the birth of our Navy, a testament to our historic significance,” said Phelan. “Today, we showed the world what American seapower means: deadly precision, meticulous execution, raw power and the will to use it.”
The Presidential Review at sea combined a series of training events into one milestone demonstration. While opportunities for ships, aircraft, and submarines to train together occur regularly, a demonstration of this magnitude rarely happens due to the extensive coordination required across various warfare areas.
“Today the President witnessed firsthand the unmatched combat power of the United States Navy. What he saw up close – our ships, submarines, aircraft, and special operations forces demonstrating what makes our Navy so special, so lethal. These forces represent only a fraction of what our Navy delivers around the world every single day,” said Caudle. “But more important than the platforms and capabilities are the Sailors who bring them to life. They are professional, patriotic Americans – warriors who stand ready at a moment’s notice to defend our nation and its interests. It is their skill, courage, and dedication that make ours the most formidable Navy in history.”
Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, Vice Adm. Doug Perry, and his staff oversaw the execution of the Presidential Review and the seamless transition to the pier celebration.
“We were honored to host the President, Secretary of War and Secretary of the Navy in the Atlantic. For 250 years, America’s warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom, and honed our ability to conduct prompt and sustained combat operations at sea. Today we were able to demonstrate why our Navy remains the elite fighting force in the modern world,” Perry said. “The Navy’s legacy continues today in our Sailors, whose readiness and professionalism remain the foundation of our nation’s security.”
The Titans of the Sea Presidential Review and Naval Station Norfolk all-hands call are two of many events taking place throughout the country to showcase maritime capabilities as part of the U.S. Navy’s 250th birthday. America is a maritime nation. For 250 years, America’s warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.
U.S. 2nd Fleet, reestablished in 2018 in response to the changing global security environment, develops and employs ready maritime forces to fight across multiple domains in the Atlantic and Arctic in order to ensure access, deter aggression, and defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.
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Courtesy Story
Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet