White House Shifts Navy Anniversary Celebration Plans, Drops San Diego as Potential Site
Originally Published: September 13, 2025 at 5:00 AM PDT
the Trump administration has decided to pursue an choice location for the planned celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Navy and Marine Corps, abandoning initial efforts to host the event in San diego in early november. The decision comes after several weeks of planning and multiple site visits by a White House advance team.
The Navy confirmed the change in plans, stating it is now exploring sites in florida.
Initial discussions, which began approximately five weeks ago, involved the White House directing the Navy, Marines, and federal Aviation Administration to investigate the feasibility of organizing a large-scale air and sea show. The Port of San Diego, the San Diego County Regional Airport authority, and the USS midway Museum were also included in the planning process.
The proposed San Diego event envisioned President Trump observing the celebration from a location within san Diego Bay, potentially requiring a partial closure of the bay to civilian vessels to accommodate a parade of warships. The Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron was also slated to participate, raising concerns about potential disruptions to commercial air traffic at San Diego International Airport.
according to sources, airport officials expressed worry that the Blue Angels’ performances and practice runs could necessitate temporary airport closures spanning several hours over multiple days.
While the administration was actively planning the event as recently as Wednesday, the decision to shift locations was communicated to relevant agencies on Thursday. A specific reason for the change was not provided, though potential local opposition to a large-scale event was noted.
Some involved in the planning process also voiced concerns that the event could overshadow existing veteran celebrations scheduled in the region, including the Boot Camp Challenge and Fleet Week.
The planned program, as outlined in a draft document, included flyovers by various aircraft, such as F-35C and F-18F fighter jets, and a performance by the Navy Leap Frogs parachute team, with a planned landing on the USS Abraham Lincoln, currently preparing for a deployment expected later this year.
The rapid timeline for planning – significantly shorter than the 14 months typically required for the annual Miramar Air Show – may have contributed to the logistical challenges. Following the declaration, sources indicated a “general sense of relief” among those involved in the initial planning stages.
Union-Tribune reporter Karen Kucher contributed to this story.
