Trump’s West Point address blends military strategy with politics

President Donald Trump, in a commencement address to the graduating class at West Point on Saturday, May 24, 2025, told the 1,002 cadets they were joining the officer corps at a “defining moment in the army’s history.”

His speech, according to The Guardian, combined praise for the military, political criticism, and personal anecdotes, reflecting both patriotic sentiment and controversial rhetoric.

Trump opened by criticizing U.S. political leaders from the past two decades.

He accused them of involving the military in questionable missions that, in his view, wasted American “time, money, and souls.”

He urged the young officers to prioritize peace while maintaining strength, stating,

“As much as you want to fight, I’d rather do it without having to fight.”

He added that through “peace through strength,” U.S. adversaries would back down, saying, “I just want to look at them and have them fold.”

He continued by denouncing past “nation-building crusades” in countries that, according to him, had no desire for American involvement.

Trump blamed these missions on leaders unfamiliar with the regions and accused them of misusing the military for ideological purposes.

“All of that’s ended, strongly ended,” he said, adding, “They’re not even allowed to think about it anymore.”

In a swipe at former military policies and social reforms, Trump referenced the cancellation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, emphasizing a shift in military priorities.

He condemned the use of the armed forces for “social projects and political causes.”

On the other hand, he also criticized past administrations for neglecting U.S. borders and depleting military resources to fight foreign wars.

“We fought for other countries’ borders but we didn’t fight for our own borders, but now we do like we have never fought before,” he declared.

Trump also alluded to drag shows previously held on military bases, a practice halted by President Joe Biden in 2023 following Republican opposition.

He asserted, “The job of the U.S. armed forces is not to host drag shows or transform foreign cultures.”

Wearing his trademark red “Make America Great Again” cap, Trump praised the country, telling the cadets, “The U.S. is the hottest country in the world.”

He also highlighted what he considered his administration’s achievements and conveyed a message of continued American greatness.

In a familiar anecdote, Trump recounted the story of post-war developer William Levitt.

Levitt was the creator of the Levittown communities in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

This tale, served as a warning to the young graduates about the dangers of losing momentum in life.

Trump has repeated this tale at various events, including a Boy Scout jamboree in 2017 and a recent speech at the University of Alabama.

He described Levitt’s later years as unhappy, despite marrying a “trophy wife” and buying a yacht.

“It didn’t work out too well,” Trump said.

“A lot of trophy wives, it doesn’t work out.

“But it made him happy for a little while at least.”

Trump also reiterated an unsubstantiated claim from 2020, alleging that Russia stole hypersonic missile technology from the U.S. during Barack Obama’s presidency.

“The Russians stole it, something bad happened,” he claimed, although he added that the U.S. is now producing hypersonic weapons again.

He praised eight cadets who had developed their own hypersonic models.

Trump asserted, “We are the designers of it. We had it stolen during the Obama administration.”

While Trump addressed the cadets with praise and encouragement, he repeatedly interwove his speech with political commentary, frequently targeting the Biden administration.

Outside the gates of West Point, protesters gathered with signs, drums, and banners, denouncing what they saw as Trump’s attack on American democracy.

The nearly hour-long speech precedes a major event scheduled for June 14 in Washington, D.C.

It is a massive military parade to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Coinciding with Trump’s birthday, the celebration will feature over 6,700 soldiers, along with concerts, fireworks, fitness contests.

There will also be NFL player appearances and exhibitions across the National Mall.

Officials estimate that up to 200,000 people may attend, with projected costs ranging from $25 million to $45 million.

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