President Donald Trump addressed U.S. military personnel aboard the USS George Washington in Yokosuka, Japan, on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. His speech, which included plans to deploy military forces in American cities, has sparked controversy. Delivered from the aircraft carrier at the American naval base, this marked another instance in which Trump suggested using the military domestically beyond its traditional National Guard roles.
During his address to overseas personnel, Trump outlined his vision for military intervention in U.S. cities as part of his administration’s strategy to tackle crime and immigration. This speech was part of a brief visit to Asia, following a recent Middle East trip where he celebrated a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The president’s remarks to the troops have raised concerns about his cognitive abilities, particularly as his administration consolidates executive power. In recent weeks, Trump has made several statements considered troubling by observers, including discussions on extrajudicial actions in South American waters. He indicated his administration would kill people bringing drugs into the country, stating they would be “like, dead.”
Trump disclosed to reporters aboard Air Force One that he had recently undergone an MRI during his last medical checkup, describing it as “perfect,” although he did not explain the reason for the test. Soon after, cameras showed him appearing disoriented beside Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, during a formal meeting.
In recent weeks, concerning moments have increased. Last month, during a phone call with Oregon Governor Tina Kotek about his push to send military forces to Portland, Oregon, Trump posed an unusual question about whether he was seeing things on television that differed from actual events, adding that his advisers were telling him something different from what he perceived.
The president’s Asia trip proceeded without disruption despite the ongoing government shutdown, which has left approximately 750,000 federal employees furloughed and others working without pay. Trump maintained a full schedule of travel, golf outings, and official events, contrasting with his approach during the 2018-2019 shutdown in his first term, when he reduced travel and canceled holiday plans.
Only 32 percent of the staff in the Executive Office of the President were furloughed during the current shutdown, according to data from the White House budget office contingency report. This is a significant decrease from the 61 percent furloughed during the last shutdown. Approximately half of the Executive Mansion’s housekeepers, ushers, valets, and butlers are currently working, compared to more than 70 percent who were previously furloughed.
While Trump traveled abroad, his administration continued to move forward with its controversial domestic projects. On October 28, 2025, the White House fired all six members of the Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency responsible for reviewing the president’s ballroom construction project. A White House official indicated that the administration is preparing to appoint new members who are more aligned with Trump’s America First policies.
The six board members, all appointed by former President Joe Biden, received emails informing them of their immediate termination. The dismissals occurred shortly after Trump announced plans to build an arch along the Potomac River, echoing France’s Arc de Triomphe, and proceed with the new ballroom where the White House’s East Wing previously stood.
The Commission of Fine Arts, established by Congress in 1910, advises the president, Congress, and the District of Columbia’s government on design and aesthetic matters affecting federal interests in the nation’s capital. The board would have reviewed Trump’s ballroom construction project, which has already seen demolition crews tear down the East Wing.
Members of Trump’s Cabinet have similarly maintained active travel schedules during the shutdown. Vice President JD Vance traveled to Israel, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem went to Portland, Oregon, to address protests, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Japan to speak to troops alongside President Trump.
The president hosted a White House fundraiser for major donors to his $300 million ballroom project and held another fundraiser at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. When hosting Republican senators for a recent lunch, Trump served burgers prepared by White House staff, noting that they prepare excellent food.
Trump’s approach to the current shutdown contrasts with his first term, when he rejected a congressional compromise, resulting in a government closure to secure funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Political allies suggest his current strategy allows him to appear presidential while avoiding congressional disputes.
