Presidential Message on the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa – The White House

Last updated: June 22, 2025 7:00 pm

Today marks the 80th anniversary of a pivotal moment in history, when American forces emerged victorious from the harrowing depths of the Battle of Okinawa, a clash that stands as the most costly triumph in the Pacific Theater of World War II.

On April 1, 1945, U.S. troops approached Okinawa with the expectation of a fierce but relatively swift engagement aimed at securing the island as a critical airbase for Allied operations. Instead, they encountered what would later be dubbed the “Typhoon of Steel.” This involved not only relentless kamikaze assaults from both air and sea but also fierce resistance from Japanese soldiers entrenched in a network of caves and tunnels, prepared to fight to their last breath. For weeks, American Soldiers, Marines, and Sailors endured a prolonged struggle characterized by brutal ambushes amidst rain and mud, along with unimaginable psychological strain. The Battle of Okinawa starkly illustrated that the Japanese forces, cornered yet resolute, would not capitulate without an exorbitant toll in lives.

Over nearly three grueling months, more than 180,000 American service members faced horrific conditions to secure Okinawa. By the time the Allies claimed victory on June 22, 1945, over 12,000 Americans had lost their lives, with tens of thousands sustaining injuries. Just months later, on September 2, Japan surrendered unconditionally, bringing an end to what was the bloodiest conflict in human history.

As we reflect on this day, we honor the resilience, bravery, and unwavering determination of every American warrior who confronted unimaginable devastation to lead the Allied forces to victory over imperialism. Their sacrifices, along with those of their comrades, serve as a testament to the selflessness and fortitude of their generation—the Greatest Generation. The legacy of their sacrifices is embodied in our alliance with Japan, forged in the aftermath of that brutal conflict, now a symbol of our shared commitment to freedom and openness, lighting the way for the world. In southern Okinawa, the Cornerstone of Peace monument stands on the site where the fighting ceased, serving as a poignant reminder of the shared tragedies wrought by war and the profound loss of life that resonates through every generation. Each American name etched into that black granite wall is immortalized as a champion of valor, liberty, and sacrifice.

See also Eliminating Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Medicaid My Administration has been relentlessly committed to rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in Government programs to preserve and protect them for those who rely most on them. The Medicaid program was designed to be a program to compassionately provide taxpayer dollars to healthcare providers who offer care to the most vulnerable Americans. To keep payments reasonable, billable costs for such care were historically capped at the same level that healthcare providers could receive from Medicare. The State and Federal Governments jointly shared this cost burden to ensure those of lesser means did not go untreated. Under the Biden Administration, States and healthcare providers were permitted to game the system. For example, States "taxed" healthcare providers, but sent the same money back to them in the form of a "Medicaid payment," which automatically unlocked for healthcare providers an additional "burden-sharing" payment from the Federal Government. Through this gimmick, the State could avoid contributing money toward Medicaid services, meaning the State no longer had a reason to be prudent in the amount of reimbursement provided. Instead of paying Medicare rates, many States that utilize these arrangements now pay the same healthcare providers almost three times the Medicare amount, a practice encouraged by the Biden Administration. These State Directed Payments have rapidly accelerated, quadrupling in magnitude over the last 4 years and reaching $110 billion in 2024 alone. This trajectory threatens the Federal Treasury and Medicaid's long-term stability, and the imbalance between Medicaid and Medicare patients threatens to jeopardize access to care for our seniors. I pledged to protect and improve these important Government healthcare programs for those that rely on them. Seniors on Medicare and Medicaid recipients both deserve access to quality care in a system free from the fraud, waste, and abuse, that enriches the unscrupulous and jeopardizes the programs themselves. We will take action to continue to love and cherish the Medicare and Medicaid programs to ensure they are preserved for those who need them most. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall therefore take appropriate action to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid, including by ensuring Medicaid payments rates are not higher than Medicare, to the extent permitted by applicable law. This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. DONALD J. TRUMP

On this significant 80th anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa, our nation pays homage to the fearless young warriors who endured unspeakable devastation, and we honor those who courageously laid down their lives for the sacred principles of freedom, sovereignty, and human dignity.