Trump Touts Military Strength, Praises West Point Cadets/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump celebrated West Point graduates Saturday while claiming credit for rebuilding the military. His speech blended traditional praise with political jabs, including criticism of past foreign policy and military diversity initiatives. The address reflected Trump’s America First stance on defense.
Trump Honors West Point Cadets + Quick Looks
- Trump praises West Point’s 2025 class for excellence.
- Credits himself for rebuilding U.S. military strength.
- Blasts “woke distractions” like drag shows on bases.
- Speech includes partisan claims about 2024 election.
- Trump says military should “crush enemies, not host shows.”
- Highlights specific cadets’ athletic and academic feats.
- Pardons several cadets for minor infractions.
- Protesters outside West Point call out budget cuts.
Trump Touts Military Strength, Praises West Point Cadets
Deep Look
WEST POINT, N.Y. — President Donald Trump returned to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on Saturday to deliver a fiery and celebratory commencement speech, blending military praise with political bravado in a way only he can.
Addressing over 1,000 graduating cadets at Michie Stadium, Trump congratulated them on their achievement while claiming full credit for the strength of the U.S. military.
“You will become officers of the greatest and most powerful army the world has ever known,” he said. “And I know, because I rebuilt that army.”
Wearing his signature red “Make America Great Again” hat, Trump said the United States is now “the hottest country in the world” and declared that the military under his leadership is focused squarely on defeating enemies — not engaging in cultural experiments.
Politics and Patriotism Intertwined
Trump didn’t shy away from campaign-style rhetoric. He touted his 2024 election win — including all seven swing states — and claimed it gave him a “mandate” to chart the military’s course.
“The job of the U.S. Armed Forces is not to host drag shows or transform foreign cultures,” Trump said, in reference to base activities criticized by conservatives during the Biden administration.
He railed against “nation-building crusades” of past decades, taking aim at both Democratic and Republican predecessors for foreign interventions that, in his view, lacked strategic purpose.
Celebrating Cadet Accomplishments
Despite the political tone, Trump took time to spotlight several graduates:
- Chris Verdugo completed an 18.5-mile march in freezing conditions in 2.5 hours.
- The top-ranked lacrosse team and football quarterback Bryson Daily were both recognized on stage.
- Trump even jokingly referenced Daily’s “steel” shoulder while arguing against transgender women in sports.
He also followed tradition by pardoning several cadets facing minor disciplinary issues, calling their decision to serve “better than any Wall Street or Silicon Valley job offer.”
Protests on the Perimeter
Outside the gates of West Point, dozens of demonstrators gathered in protest. Signs like “Stop the Cuts” and “Go Army Beat Fascism” waved beside miniature American flags. The gathering reflected broader discontent with Trump’s military policies and spending decisions.
A Look Back and Forward
Trump last addressed West Point’s graduating class in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. That ceremony drew scrutiny after cadets were summoned back to a region experiencing a viral surge.
Just weeks ago, Trump gave a similarly polarizing address at the University of Alabama, where he mixed advice with attacks on President Joe Biden and commentary on social issues.
“Writing your own ticket to top jobs on Wall Street or Silicon Valley wouldn’t be bad,” he said Saturday. “But I think what you’re doing is better.”
The Broader Context
Vice President JD Vance also addressed a military graduating class Friday, telling Naval Academy cadets that Trump’s leadership ensures that U.S. troops are deployed only with clear and defined missions, not “open-ended conflicts” of the past.
Together, the speeches show a GOP realignment of military priorities — away from global interventions and toward nationalist defense and culture war narratives.
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