US Navy turns 251: American politicians use photos of Indian warships

The US Navy marked its 251st birthday on October 13, 2026. In posts celebrating the occasion, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and North Carolina Congressman Tim Moore shared a photograph of three Indian Navy frigates: INS Godavari, INS Brahmaputra and INS Beas. Other officials used images identified as Russian warships, including a Kirov-class battlecruiser and the Soviet-era cruiser Mikhail Kutuzov, now a museum ship. The mix-ups drew mockery online and highlighted the importance of checking images before posting official tributes.