Trump drops an ‘OORAH!’ for Marines as he celebrates Veterans Day

(Daily Caller News Foundation) – President Donald Trump repeated a Marine Corps battle cry Tuesday while appearing on the “Pat McAfee Show” via phone.

Trump laid a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery prior to calling into the popular ESPN program, which was broadcasting from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Trump discussed efforts to improve services for veterans while also answering multiple sports questions, including a request by McAfee to address name, image and likeness (NIL) in the NCAA.

“Mr. President, have you ever done an ‘OORAH!’ to a bunch of Marines?” McAfee, a former punter with the Indianapolis Colts who had two Pro Bowl appearances, asked Trump, who replied, “Not the kind I just heard. I just heard a level of professionalism with the way they did it that I don’t think anybody can match, to be honest. It’s very impressive.”

The Marine battle cry of “OORAH!” evolved from the sound of a diving alarm on board the Balao-class submarine USS Perch during the Korean War, according to DOD News, after Marines with the 1st Amphibious Reconnaissance Company adopted an imitation of the diving alarm for use during training runs.

“Mr. President, why don’t you drop one?” McAfee asked. “Mr. President, why don’t you drop an OORAH real quick?”

“I will,” Trump said before giving the battle cry over the phone, with the Marines at Parris Island responding with one in response.

On Monday, the Marine Corps celebrated the 250th anniversary of its founding. In October, Vice President J.D. Vance, who served for four years in the Marines with a combat tour in Iraq, joined second lady Usha Vance and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in observing an exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California, the Daily Caller News Foundation previously reported.