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Summary
President Trump held a Thanksgiving video call with deployed service members across the Western Hemisphere, opening with somber news that National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom had died from injuries sustained in a terrorist attack in Washington, D.C. the previous day. The President blamed the Biden administration for bringing in “unvetted” Afghan nationals during the 2021 withdrawal, spent considerable time discussing his economic policies including tariffs and potential income tax elimination, praised military equipment procurement including B-2 bomber strikes on Iran, and engaged in lighthearted exchanges with troops about the upcoming Army-Navy game and his golf handicap before taking press questions that grew contentious over Afghan refugee vetting.
Participants
President Donald Trump – President of the United States
Military Leadership Present:
- Major General David Gardner – Commander, 101st Airborne Division and Joint Task Force – Southern Border
- Captain Christopher Farricker – Commander, USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group
- Colonel Tom Trimble – Commander, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit
- Major Ross Gilchrist – Commander, Battalion Landing Team 3/6 (Third Battalion, Sixth Marines)
- Colonel Seth Spanier – Commander, 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base
- Captain Ryan Weber – Commander, 18th Space Defense Squadron, Vandenberg Space Force Base
- Lieutenant Commander Alexis Wilde – Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Cutter Forrest Rednour
- Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Rockwood – Military liaison coordinating the call
- Colonel Rick “Shooter” Haley – Marine Corps officer with 22nd MEU
Other Service Members Mentioned:
– Sergeant Major Anderson (101st Airborne)
– Various unit personnel from each branch
Opening Remarks and Tragic News
Trump began the video call by wishing service members a happy Thanksgiving, but immediately pivoted to devastating news. He expressed what he called “anguish and horror” over a terrorist attack that had occurred the previous day in Washington, D.C., where two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot while deployed as part of the DC Task Force.
The President announced that Sarah Beckstrom, who had begun her service in June 2023, had just died from her injuries moments before the call began. Trump described her as a “magnificent person” who was “outstanding in every way.” He noted that another guardsman remained in critical condition, fighting for his life.
Trump quickly shifted to assigning blame for the attack, stating that the Department of Homeland Security had confirmed the suspect was an Afghan national who had been “flown here by the previous administration.” He displayed what he described as a photograph of Afghans crowding onto military aircraft during the 2021 evacuation, calling it “total bedlam” and arguing that “the toughest, meanest, most capable physically got on the plane, not the people that we were looking for.”
The President criticized the Biden administration’s decision to evacuate from Kabul’s airport rather than Bagram Air Base, arguing this led to chaos. He characterized incoming Afghan refugees broadly, stating that countries “force them in because their countries are smart” and alleging that many “come out of jails in many cases, mental institutions, they’re gang members, they’re drug dealers.”
This opening set a somber and politically charged tone that would continue throughout the call, with Trump repeatedly returning to immigration themes and criticism of his predecessor.
Border Security and Military Operations
Major General David Gardner of the 101st Airborne Division provided an update on border operations, noting that over 10,000 service members were deployed along the 2,000-mile border “from San Diego to the Gulf of America“—using Trump’s renamed designation for the Gulf of Mexico.
Gardner reported that illegal border crossings had reached “historic lows” due to their collective efforts. He described troops patrolling and reinforcing the border wall 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including on Thanksgiving Day itself. The general noted that service members had enjoyed traditional Thanksgiving meals and football games despite being deployed.
Trump seized on Gardner’s use of “Gulf of America,” launching into an extended discussion of his decision to rename the body of water. The President explained that the gulf had been called the Gulf of Mexico for 350 years, but he questioned why it should bear that name when “we have 92% of the frontage and they have 8%.” He described himself as “a real estate person at heart” and said the change “took literally a matter of hours.”
The President claimed that the Associated Press had sued to stop the name change because “they’re not good Americans,” but that his administration “beat them very badly in a lawsuit.” He expressed satisfaction that the new name was now being used routinely in media coverage and official communications.
Trump emphasized repeatedly that border crossings had reached zero for nine consecutive months, contrasting this sharply with what he characterized as millions entering under Biden. He argued that critics who previously focused on border issues had gone silent because “nobody came in” and there was nothing negative to report.
Naval and Marine Operations
Captain Christopher Farricker of the USS Iwo Jima introduced his Amphibious Ready Group and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, describing their operations in the Caribbean conducting “maritime patrols against narcos in defense of the homeland.”
Colonel Rick Haley elaborated on their mission, revealing that Marines were reinforcing the U.S. embassy in Haiti and “getting engaged on a routine basis, both receiving fire from some of those gang members and returning fire.” This represented a significant disclosure about ongoing combat operations that had received little public attention.
Haley also mentioned humanitarian assistance to Jamaica following recent hurricane damage and thanked the First Lady for visiting Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, where his wife and children had the opportunity to meet her.
Major Ross Gilchrest of Battalion Landing Team 3/6 reported from Camp Santiago, Puerto Rico, where his Marines and sailors were conducting training including “first-person-view attack drones” and conducting “the first ever three-night strikes in the history of the Department of War” (likely meaning Department of Defense). This represented a milestone in combat capability that Gilchrist emphasized would give the President “options” for national security objectives.
The exchanges included a lighthearted moment when Farricker responded to an earlier Army-Navy game question by declaring “Go Navy beat Army,” drawing laughter from Trump and others on the call.
Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard Updates
Colonel Seth Spanier of the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base represented 4,000 airmen operating the B-1 bomber. His subordinates described recent deployments to the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean, emphasizing their role in deterring drug trafficking operations.
Trump used this opportunity to discuss military procurement, mentioning a new aircraft he called the “F-47” and noting he hadn’t named it despite people thinking he had. He touted unprecedented levels of aircraft orders and discussed efforts to expedite maintenance on F-35 fighters to return grounded aircraft to service more quickly.
An airman named Laura asked Trump about the most memorable obstacle he’d faced in life. The President responded at length about what he called “weaponization of government by the previous administration,” describing legal challenges he faced as “a disgrace to our nation.” He framed his legal troubles as fighting not just for himself but “for everyone” listening and for “hundreds of millions of people in our country.”
Captain Ryan Weber of the 18th Space Defense Squadron reported tracking 48,000 objects in space and noted that 2025 had seen 273 space launches, with 174 originating from the United States. Trump expressed particular pride in creating the Space Force, calling it “my baby” and recounting that Biden had wanted to terminate it but was “met with a great force” from military leaders who refused.
The President characterized Space Force as potentially “one of the most important things I think that I’ve ever done,” emphasizing that the U.S. had been losing the space race to China and Russia but was now “dominating space.”
Lieutenant Commander Alexis Wilde of the Coast Guard Cutter Forrest Rednour reported three at-sea interdictions in the previous month, apprehending 45 illegal aliens off the California coast. Trump praised the Coast Guard’s hurricane rescue operations and announced procurement of new cutters and eleven new icebreakers being built in partnership with Finland.
The President noted that the U.S. had previously had only one icebreaker while Russia had 48, calling the previous situation “ridiculous.” He joked that he’d redesigned the hull himself because he’s “a looks person” and wanted “the hull to be perfect.”
Economic Policy Discussion
Throughout the call, Trump interwove extensive discussion of economic policies, particularly tariffs, in a manner unusual for a military Thanksgiving address. He recounted a conversation with the king of Saudi Arabia, who allegedly told him that the U.S. had been “a dead country” under Biden but was now “the hottest country anywhere in the world.”
The President claimed nearly $20 trillion in investment commitments, calling it “record-setting by 10 times” what anyone had seen before. He described factories and artificial intelligence plants being built, though he digressed to say he’d “never liked the word artificial” and thought “they ought to change the name.”
Trump provided specific figures for what he characterized as trade deals, claiming Japan would pay $650 billion, South Korea $350 billion, and the European Union $950 billion. He argued these payments, combined with tariff revenue, might allow his administration to “substantially be cutting and maybe cutting out completely” the income tax within a couple of years.
The President described the stock market hitting all-time highs “for the 48th time” during his nine months in office, emphasizing benefits for 401(k) holders. He argued that foreign companies were building plants in the U.S. specifically to avoid tariffs, creating a situation where “we’re taking in hundreds of billions of dollars like we’ve never done before” while simultaneously protecting American industry.
Trump claimed to have recently met with President Xi of China and established “a fair deal” where China pays tariffs while the U.S. benefits economically. He characterized previous relationships with allies as exploitative, arguing that even friends like Japan and the European Union had been “ripping us off for many, many years.”
Iran Military Strike Discussion
Trump provided details about recent B-2 bomber strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, describing the operation in vivid terms. He said the attack occurred “in the dark of night with no moon, no light, no nothing” and that “every single bomb hit its mark.”
The President claimed the Atomic Energy Commission (likely meaning International Atomic Energy Agency) had declared it “total obliteration” of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, dismissing what he called “fake news” that tried to minimize the damage.
Trump recounted meeting the pilots in the Oval Office, including maintenance crews, noting they had flown 37 hours each way “and there wasn’t a sputter from an engine.” He praised the mission as flawless, with no mechanical problems whatsoever.
The President revealed that pilots told him they and their predecessors had wanted to conduct this strike for 22 years, practicing it three times annually, but “no president gave them the approval to do it until you came along.” He quoted them as saying they “loved” carrying out the mission.
Trump compared the pilots to actor Tom Cruise, calling it “very good casting” and mentioning that Cruise was “the last of our movie stars probably,” though he planned to honor Sylvester Stallone at the Kennedy Center.
He thanked “General Raizin Caine” and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for the operation, emphasizing that it demonstrated restored American strength and respect on the world stage.
Press Questions and Contentious Exchanges
After the military portion concluded, Trump took questions from reporters present at his location. The exchanges grew increasingly heated when journalists challenged his characterization of Afghan refugee vetting.
A reporter noted that Trump’s own Department of Justice Inspector General had reported in 2025 that Afghan evacuees underwent “thorough vetting by DHS and by the FBI,” questioning why he blamed the Biden administration for the attack.
Trump responded sharply, asking “Are you stupid? Are you a stupid person?” He argued that once Afghans entered the country, “there’s a law passed that it’s almost impossible not to get ’em out” and that they “came in and they were un-vetted, they were unchecked.”
The President repeatedly displayed the photograph of crowded Afghan evacuation planes, characterizing the entire withdrawal as lacking any security screening. When pressed that many Afghans were in the U.S. legally, Trump dismissed this, saying “Many are wonderful, yeah, I’m sure” in a sarcastic tone before pivoting to complaints about Somali immigrants in Minnesota.
Trump criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as “an incompetent governor, a dope” and claimed Somalis were “taking over Minnesota” with gang problems. When a reporter asked what Somalis had to do with the Afghan shooter, the President acknowledged “nothing” but continued discussing how Somalis were “ripping off our country” through unspecified payments.
He attacked Congresswoman Ilhan Omar specifically, saying she “does nothing but complain about our country and our constitution” despite coming “from a country with practically, it’s practically no country.”
When asked if the Afghan suspect had been granted asylum under his own administration, Trump acknowledged the difficulty of deportation once people are “flown in” but insisted “we’re gonna be getting them all out now.”
The press gaggle concluded with Trump being asked what he was most thankful for. He responded: “The fact that America’s great again. We made America great again. America was a dead country. We’ve made America great again.”
Military Morale and Personal Interactions
Despite the political content, the call included genuine moments of connection with service members. When asked about the Army-Navy football game, Trump diplomatically declined to pick a side, saying he’d “let you know right after the game who’s gonna win.” He noted winning the military vote “by the biggest vote in the history of our election.”
Captain Farricker requested a birthday message for his nine-year-old daughter Catherine, which Trump warmly provided, telling her “you have a father who’s a great hero and a great man and highly respected.”
A Coast Guard petty officer asked about Trump’s golf handicap and whether he’d play the much-discussed match with Biden. The President claimed to be “right around scratch or better,” recounting that he’d won 38 club championships, including one the previous year where he defeated “a 27-year-old kid” despite being “decades older.” He said Biden “can’t hit a ball 30 yards” and criticized him for claiming to be a six-handicap during their debate.
Throughout the call, Trump repeatedly complimented service members’ appearance, at one point joking that Navy personnel looked like “central casting” and “I could put you in a movie right this second and… we’d have a top grossing movie. You don’t have people like you in Hollywood.”
The President expressed genuine emotion when discussing the loss of Sarah Beckstrom, noting he’d heard about her death “just seconds before I went on” and that “her parents are with her.” He indicated his staff had been in contact with the family and he would speak with them “tonight or tomorrow,” acknowledging “you can’t just call two seconds later” given their grief.
Policy Context and Implications
This Thanksgiving call revealed several significant policy developments that extended well beyond traditional holiday greetings:
The disclosure of U.S. Marines engaging in regular firefights at the Haiti embassy indicated an escalation in that mission that had received minimal public attention. The operational details suggested American forces were in a more active combat role than previously acknowledged.
Trump’s extensive discussion of tariffs and potential income tax elimination represented a major policy preview, though the specific figures he cited for payments from Japan, South Korea, and the EU appeared to reference trade deals rather than direct payments and may not align with public reporting on those agreements.
The revelation about 22 years of planning for the Iran strikes and previous presidential refusals to authorize them provided historical context for a major military operation. The claim of “total obliteration” of Iran’s nuclear program would be significant if accurate, though it contradicts public reporting suggesting Iran retains nuclear development capabilities.
The Afghan refugee controversy highlighted continuing tensions over the 2021 evacuation. Trump’s claim that evacuees were “un-vetted” conflicted with his own administration’s subsequent reporting on screening procedures, creating confusion about the actual security protocols applied to Afghan allies.
The Space Force discussion emphasized Trump’s pride in creating the sixth military branch and suggested significant planned expansion. His comment about Biden wanting to terminate it, if accurate, would indicate early consideration of reversing that organizational change.
The icebreaker procurement announcement addressed a real capability gap, as the U.S. Coast Guard does operate significantly fewer polar vessels than Russia, limiting American Arctic presence as that region gains strategic importance.
Citation
“Remarks: Donald Trump Speaks with Servicemembers Via Video on Thanksgiving – November 27, 2025.” Factbase, Roll Call, 27 Nov. 2025, https://factba.se.