
Donald Trump was applauded by Marine aviators wearing 'Make Aircrew Great Again' badges as he addressed sailors and Marines on his final Japanese engagement Tuesday - then dived into the military crowd to autograph Bibles and uniforms.

The aviators on the USS Wasp made their departure from the normal uniform code as Trump spoke to them to mark Memorial Day in the U.S., which is 12 hours behind Japan.

The president was applauded as he and first lady Melania Trump met hundreds of sailors and Marines in the hangar of the Wasp, an amphibious assault ship which is also an aircraft carrier.

The aviators spotted wearing the badges were Marines, according to the AFP wire service. Members of both branches serve on the Wasp, with Marines flying F-35B stealth fighters and Osprey helicopters, and Navy aviators flying SH-60 Seahawks.

Pentagon rules say that serving military personnel must steer clear of political comments or endorsements while on duty, including through their uniform.

The Navy said Tuesday that it was reviewing whether any rules had been broken, the Washington Times reported.

It is unclear if Trump saw the uniform patches, but he was given a rapturous reception as he spoke and after delivering a speech praising the military, autographed uniforms and Bibles as he dived into the crowd.

The speech was his final engagement in Japan, where he had taken part in a four-day state visit with the first lady and been the first world leader to meet the newly-enthroned emperor Naruhito.

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Reception: Trump spoke to sailors and Marines on the USS Wasp at the joint U.S.-Japanese Yokosuka base, just south of Tokyo

Unconventional: The unform patch was seen on Marine aviators, who were part of the crowd in the Wasp's hangar

Rule breaker? At least three Marine aviators were seen wearing the pro-Trump shoulder patches during the president's speech

Firepower: Sailors and Marines were positioned in front of of one of the Wasp's F-35B vertical take-off stealth fighters

Into the crowd: Donald and Melania Trump shook hands and were photographed up close after his speech on the Wasp

Hail to the chief: Service members listen as President Donald Trump speaks during a Memorial Day event aboard the USS Wasp

Autograph: Trump was asked to sign a service member's Bible after his speech to hundreds of personnel on the USS Wasp

Donald Trump greets sailors after a speech aboard the USS Wasp at Yokosuka base in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo

On stage: Trump arrives in the hangar of the USS Wasp to speak to 800 sailors and Marines to mark Memorial Day

Picture time: Military personnel made sure they had memories of the commander-in-chief's visit to the USS Wasp

Cheer: One service member waved a hat as Trump soaked up the applause after his speech on the Wasp

Trump described the cheering crowd of American servicemen and women as 'daring and mighty warriors in the Pacific' during his farewell speech on the USS Wasp.

'I have to wish you all a very happy Memorial Day,' Trump told around 800 members of the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet.

'On this Memorial Day evening in the United States, Americans are concluding a sacred day of remembrance, reflection and prayer.'

He said that he generally likes to be in the U.S. for Memorial Day but claimed the trip to Japan was 'amazing and unforgettable'.

Many posed for photographs with the president, while others had him sign their belongings.

The reception ended his time in Japan.

He held serious discussions with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe about North Korea, Iran and trade - and the pair played golf and attended a sumo wrestling match together.

Before his speech to US troops at Tokyo Bay, Trump and first lady Melania Trump visited a Japanese helicopter carrier, the J.S. Kaga, docked nearby.

Standing alongside Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Trump delivered the same 'happy Memorial Day' message to the Japanese forces.

Trump touted the U.S.-Japan military alliance and said their troops would confront a 'range of complex threats in the region and far beyond.'

It was the closest he came to mentioning growing tension with China, as well as with North Korea, in a pair of Memorial Day addresses before he and Melania went home.

During his speech, Trump admitted he was jealous of his wife's positive media coverage.

He said: 'You've been really the talk of Japan. They're not covering me. I'm a little upset with her right now,' he said.

'They love you in Japan, honey, and we appreciate it very much. Really, works very hard.'

Earlier address: Trump had also spoken to a mix of Japanese and American service members on board the JS Kaga, a helicopter carrier which is to become Japan's first full aircraft carrier since World War II when it embarks F-35 fighters

Preparations: Service personnel line up for the arrival of the president and first lady on board the USS Wasp

Both here: Donald and Melania Trump were both on stage on the USS Wasp as they closed their visit to Japan

In we go: The president and first lady were escorted by sailors from the flight deck of the USS Wasp after landing on Marine One

On board too: Melania Trump was flanked by Bill Hagerty, the U.S. ambassador to Japan and his wife Chrissy as her husband spoke on the Wasp

Back on the catwalk: Melania Trump returned to her model days as she arrived on the stage in the Wasp's hangar

He began his remarks at the USS Wasp with a Memorial Day message, after a short stopover on the JS Kaga, which will be outfitted to carry F-35 stealth fighter jets and become Japan's first full-scale aircraft carrier since World War Two.

The U.S. president stuck to his script at Kaga but trashed the U.S. Navy's electromagnetic catapult on other aircraft carriers in his Wasp address.

The catapult is on the USS Gerald R. Ford, the first of a new class of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers which is still to be delivered to the Navy. At more than $13 billion, it is the costliest warship ever built.

The Gerald R. Ford class will eventually replace the Nimitz class of nuclear-powered carriers but the first in the class has been held up by delays and cost overruns, one of which has been to the catapult.

It replaces the traditional method of projecting aircraft off the flightdeck, a steam-powered catapult, with an electromagnetic one. The new system is intended to allow more aircraft launches, handle a wider variety of aircraft, including light drones, and need less maintenance.

The Chinese navy is widely believed to be planning to use one for its next aircraft carrier.

It is unclear what prompted Trump to discuss it. The Wasp is an amphibious assault ship which is used as an aircraft carrier by vertical take-off and landing F-35Bs and by helicopters and therefore does not have a catapult launch system.

Trump said the Gerald R. Ford's new catapult has a $900 million cost overrun and did a voice vote of service members, asking whether they preferred steam or electric power. They heartily endorsed steam. 'Who said electric? He's working with the enemy.' Trump joked.

'I said what was wrong with steam. I would like to know,' he said he asked the military after he came into office. 'I think I'm going to put an order, when we build a new aircraft carrier, we're going to use steam. I'm just going to put out an order. We don't need the electric speed.'

Trump said sometimes the Pentagon gets it wrong, and that was one of those times. Not with the F-35B fighter jet, though. Trump said the Lockheed Martin aircraft is one of the best.

'The enemy has a problem with it. You know what the problem is? They can't see it,' he said on the United States' vessel at Yokosuka. 'Other than that, it's a fair fight.'

Trump made reference to the strained relations with North Korea and China in his Memorial Day address, mentioning conflicts in the region, but did not mention the countries by name.

Also mentioned: Trump attacked the hi-tech electromagnetic catapult used on the USS Gerald R. Ford, the first in a new class of nuclear aircraft carriers. Trump said he wanted future members of the class equipped with traditional steam-powered catapults used to propel aircraft off its deck

Welcome: The Wasp's commander, Captain Christopher Herr, escorted Trump past an honor guard of his sailors

Firepower: Trump saluted as he passed members of the Wasp's honor guard and some of its aircraft, including an F-35B stealth fighter and a V-22 Osprey, both of which are flown by Marines

Final engagement: Trump touched down on the JS Kaga with the first lady and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie. The JS Kaga is to become a full-scale aircraft carrier

'As you know, Japan recently announced its intent to purchase 105 brand new stealth F-35 fighter aircraft. The best in the world. This purchase will give Japan the largest fleet of F-35s of any our allies. And soon this very ship will be upgraded to carry that cutting-edge technology,' he said on the JS Kaga.

He said, 'With this extraordinary new equipment, the JS Kaga will help our nations defend against a range of complex threats in the region and far beyond.'

Trump reviewed the JS Kaga before his remarks on the USS Wasp. The JS Kaga one of two Japanese 'escorting destroyers' that are being upgraded to aircraft carriers.

Japan refers to their ships as escorting vessels to comply with their constitution. They were prohibited from building an offensive force after they fought the United States and Allied Forces three-quarters of a century ago.

The Kaga's namesake sunk in the Battle of Midway in 1942, during the world war that pitted the United States against Japan. The countries are aligned now against a growing threat from China and North Korea.

He and Abe delivered remarks on the ship that were characterized as 'words of encouragement' from the prime minster and U.S. president to service members.

An official said before their remarks that 500 Japanese and American troops were on board the ship for the event.

Abe told troops, 'Today, I feel extremely delighted to have this opportunity with President Trump to see all of you here, representing the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. Forces men and women of great courage and patriotism.'

He said it 'is the very first time in history that the two leaders of Japan and the United States' have held such an event.

'Japan-U.S. alliance has become more robust than ever under the great connection that I and President Trump have developed. The fact that we stand together on board the JS Kaga today is a testament to such robust alliance,' he said.

He added, 'President Trump, I am truly, truly grateful for our friendship. And just like between us, there is a deep bond of friendship between the men and women of the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the U.S Forces, which deserves celebration.'