A high-profile U.S. Navy event celebrating the service’s 250th anniversary has come under scrutiny after reports surfaced that organizers switched from using dummy bombs to live munitions during the “Titans of the Sea Presidential Review,” held in Norfolk earlier this month.
According to sources familiar with the Navy’s planning, the original exercise design called for inert ordnance. However, the decision was reportedly altered to include live bombs a move that sparked questions about safety and intent. The White House, however, denied any such change.
“Organizers always planned to use live munitions, as is typical in training exercises,” said Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly in a statement.
The Navy declined to comment on why the shift was made, but officials noted that using live ammunition can serve dual purposes ceremonial and training arguing that the ordnance would have been expended later regardless.
Safety Concerns and Political Tensions
The use of live bombs required changes in safety planning for the Norfolk event, which featured seven Arleigh Burke-class destroyers firing missiles and large-caliber guns, as well as airpower demonstrations from USS Truman’s air wing. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump observed the display aboard the USS George H.W. Bush before the president delivered a political speech attacking Democratic lawmakers.
Critics have accused the Trump administration of politicizing the military, pointing to a broader trend of the armed forces being used in high-visibility presidential events. The Norfolk review proceeded despite a partial government shutdown that left thousands of federal employees furloughed.
The controversy follows a similar incident earlier this month at Camp Pendleton, California, where a live artillery round misfired during the Marines’ 250th anniversary demonstration, scattering shrapnel onto Interstate 5. No injuries were reported, but the mishap prompted outrage from California officials and a formal inquiry from members of Congress.
Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the decision to use live artillery near public highways and temporarily closed the San Diego–Los Angeles route, citing safety concerns a move criticized by the White House as politically motivated.
Trump’s Military Pageantry
President Trump’s affinity for large-scale military displays has been evident throughout his tenure. Inspired by France’s Bastille Day parade, he has repeatedly requested grand celebrations showcasing U.S. power from parades with tanks in Washington, D.C., to missile launches at sea.
At the Norfolk event, destroyers launched $2 million Standard Missile-2 projectiles, aircraft conducted strafing runs, and Navy SEALs staged tactical demonstrations. One fighter jet bore Trump’s name and the inscription “45–47” beneath the cockpit a reference to his current and potential future presidencies.
A Navy spokesperson described the aircraft’s marking as “customary for visits of this type.”
The “Titans of the Sea” spectacle, intended as a patriotic celebration, has instead reignited debate over the militarization of national ceremonies and the risks associated with live-fire events in peacetime displays.
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