President Donald Trump marked Wednesday’s 83rd anniversary of the Battle of Midway, calling the 1942 naval clash a “watershed moment” that turned the tide of World War II in the Pacific.
The White House released a statement commemorating the battle in June 1942 that decimated Japan’s carrier fleet.
The anniversary comes as the U.S. strengthens Pacific alliances to counter growing Chinese military assertiveness. Trump emphasized how former enemies have become partners, with Japan now a cornerstone ally.
“The epic Battle of Midway stands to this day as a glorious reminder that, even in the face of long odds, perilous danger, and tremendous uncertainty, no challenge is too great for the strength of the American spirit,” the President said. He honored servicemembers who “secured victory over tyranny in the Pacific 80 years ago.”
The battle marked a stunning reversal after months of Japanese victories. Following Pearl Harbor’s devastation in December 1941, Imperial forces swept across the Pacific, capturing the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
By the summer of 1942, Japan targeted Midway Island—a strategic outpost 1,000 miles from Hawaii. They planned to destroy America’s remaining Pacific fleet and launch deeper offensives.
But American codebreakers cracked Japanese communications, giving Admiral Chester Nimitz crucial intelligence. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered Nimitz to prepare the battered fleet for a decisive confrontation.
On June 4, U.S. carrier planes struck at dawn. American forces under Admirals Jack Fletcher and Raymond Spruance fought relentlessly despite facing superior numbers.
Within 24 hours, they sank four Japanese carriers and a heavy cruiser. The losses shattered Japan’s offensive capabilities and began America’s island-hopping campaign toward Tokyo.
The Presidential message noted the transformation since the 1945 surrender.
“The United States and Japan have forged an enduring partnership built on the shared values of freedom, sovereignty, and an abiding commitment to peace across the Indo-Pacific,” it read.
That partnership faces new tests. Trump cited threats from China and North Korea as reasons for continued U.S.-Japan cooperation on “safety, security, prosperity, and liberty.”
The President’s message reflects broader administration efforts to strengthen Pacific alliances. Still, the Midway anniversary serves as both a historical remembrance and a contemporary reminder of American resolve in the region.