At the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, President Donald J. Trump delivered a charged commencement speech to the graduating class of 2025, marking his first major military address since returning to office. Wearing his signature red “Make America Great Again” hat, Trump stood before 1,002 graduating cadets, 14 of whom represented countries from around the globe, including Poland, Qatar, and Kosovo.
President Trump lauded the cadets’ accomplishments and asserted his role in reviving the strength and prestige of the U.S. military. “You will become officers in the greatest and most powerful Army the world has ever known,” he declared. “And I know because I rebuilt the Army and I rebuilt the military, and we rebuilt it like nobody had ever rebuilt it before.” His remarks set the tone for a speech heavily focused on military strength, patriotism, and a return to what he described as a mission-focused defense posture.
Foreign Policy Shifts and the End of ‘Nation-Building Crusades’
Highlighting a stark departure from previous administrations, Trump criticized the bipartisan trend of involving the U.S. military in what he termed “nation-building crusades.” He emphasized that these interventions, which defined much of the post-9/11 era, placed undue burdens on the military with little return. “For at least two decades, political leaders from both parties have dragged our military into missions,” he said, “to nations that wanted to do nothing with us. It was never meant to be. It wasn’t meant to be.”
His remarks echoed the administration’s broader shift in foreign policy, previously outlined during his Middle East visit earlier this month. Trump and Vice President JD Vance, a Marine veteran who addressed the Naval Academy a day earlier, both committed the administration to avoiding “forever wars” and ensuring future military deployments are guided by specific, achievable objectives.
Ending DEI and Critical Race Theory: A New Military Culture
President Trump used the occasion to tout his administration’s controversial reforms targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in the military. Earlier this year, he signed an executive order banning DEI initiatives, including the disbanding of cadet clubs based on race and gender at West Point — among them, the National Society of Black Engineers Club and the Society of Women Engineers.
“We’re getting rid of the distractions,” Trump said on Saturday, “and we’re focusing our military on its core mission — crushing America’s adversaries, killing America’s enemies, and defending our great American flag like it has never been defended before.” He also declared that critical race theory would no longer be taught at military academies. The executive order instructs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to conduct internal reviews and enforce a merit-based culture in all branches of the military.
Boosting Morale and Enlistments: Trump Touts Recruitment Gains
The president also took time to celebrate what he described as a dramatic turnaround in military recruitment, pointing to a new peacetime record. “Today, morale in the Armed Forces is soaring to the highest levels in many decades after years of recruiting shortfalls,” Trump stated. “Just last year was the worst of all, the last year of the Biden administration. And right now, just less than a year later, we just set a brand new peacetime recruiting record.”
While the Trump administration credits its policies for this “Trump Bump,” independent reports suggest otherwise. According to CBS News, enlistment numbers had already started to recover from pandemic-era lows during the latter part of Biden’s presidency, following targeted reforms in recruitment strategy. Experts suggest the upward trend may not be entirely attributable to Trump’s return, despite the optics and rhetoric used by the administration.
Contrasting Visions: Biden’s 2024 Address and Vance’s Naval Academy Speech
This year’s commencement at West Point follows last year’s speech by former President Joe Biden, who emphasized the importance of constitutional duty, multilateral diplomacy, and support for global democracies. Biden spoke extensively about the war in Ukraine and called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, reiterating that the cadets’ oath is to the U.S. Constitution, not any political figure or party.
In contrast, Trump’s remarks centered around American exceptionalism, military supremacy, and a rejection of progressive values in military institutions. Vice President JD Vance echoed this shift in his address to the Naval Academy, highlighting the sacrifice of American service members while calling for an end to endless foreign engagements. Sharing the story of Major Megan McClung, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq, Vance underscored the human cost of poorly defined military interventions.
Though acknowledging that not every graduate may align politically with the current administration, both Trump and Vance extended congratulations and expressed confidence in the next generation of military leaders. The West Point ceremony, held just ahead of Memorial Day, concluded with a solemn tribute to fallen soldiers and the reaffirmation of service to country above all.
