President Donald Trump delivered a politically infused graduation speech at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, on May 24, 2025. His remarks extended beyond an hour and deviated significantly from typical commencement addresses.
Addressing 1,002 graduates while sporting his recognizable red “Make America Great Again” hat, Trump interspersed congratulatory statements with political grievances and anecdotes involving professional golfers, real estate figures, and organized crime associates.
This event marked Trump’s second appearance at West Point, following his 2020 address, where he had difficulty descending a ramp. For this event, he exited via a side staircase before traveling to his Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Trump used the platform to emphasize his administration’s actions to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within the military. He informed the cadets that he had freed the military from what he deemed divisive political training. The president declared there would be no more critical race theory or transgender policies in the military, building on his January executive order aimed at denying the recognition of transgender, intersex, and nonbinary individuals in government operations.
The policy changes have already been implemented at West Point and other military academies. Several student organizations, including the Asian-Pacific Forum Club and the Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers, were disbanded, and faculty were directed to exclude terms like “feminist” and “systemic racism” from their syllabi.
Trump’s address included various digressions from military-related topics. He discussed retired professional golfer Gary Player, highlighting him as an example of overcoming physical limitations through dedication. The president spoke about Player’s success despite his smaller stature, attributing it to his advanced exercise routines.
In a notable segment of his remarks, Trump discussed real estate developer William Levitt, credited with creating modern American suburbs. Trump portrayed Levitt’s story as a warning about losing drive after selling his company and remarrying, suggesting that such marriages that include “trophy wives” often fail.
Trump also mentioned his legal issues, comparing himself to infamous mob boss Al Capone. “I was investigated more than the great late Alphonse Capone,” Trump told the graduates, adding that despite Capone’s criminal history, he endured more investigations before becoming president.
The president took the opportunity to promote his immigration policies, asserting that the country had been invaded by unauthorized individuals over the previous four years. His comments followed a federal judge’s order for his administration to return a Guatemalan man wrongfully deported to Mexico. Trump expressed optimism that courts would support his deportation efforts.
Throughout the speech, Trump emphasized his November 2024 election victory, claiming it provided a mandate to pursue his administration’s agenda. He told the cadets they were the first West Point graduates of America’s “golden age” and lauded his administration’s military spending, mentioning a trillion-dollar military budget he refused to cut.
The Class of 2025 included 252 women, with Joanna K. Halfhill as the valedictorian, marking the 45th anniversary of the first class with female graduates. Trump brought several graduates on stage, including Cadet Chris Verdugo, who set a record for completing an 18.5-mile march in 2 hours and 30 minutes, and quarterback Bryson Daily, whom Trump called “Captain America.”
Trump’s immigration comments reflected his administration’s broader border policies. He praised the immigration crackdown and committed to continuing deportations of individuals he considered undesirable. He also claimed credit for what he described as record peacetime military recruitment levels, though improvements were noted before his return to office.
Military observers and former faculty members expressed concerns about the partisan tone of Trump’s remarks at the traditionally nonpartisan institution. Graham Parsons, a former West Point professor who resigned after criticizing Trump’s policies, described the impact as causing “real whiplash” for the academy community.
The president’s speech occurred amid a broader review of military academies by his administration for content deemed inappropriate under anti-DEI directives. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has led efforts to eliminate books, courses, and programs inconsistent with the administration’s vision for military education.
Trump concluded his remarks by encouraging the graduates to think big, work hard, and persevere. He stated they were joining what he called the greatest and most powerful army in history. The president then announced his departure to address matters involving Russia and China, promising continued American triumphs.
The ceremony included the traditional hat toss and recognition of outstanding cadets, celebrating achievements of the Army lacrosse team and the football team’s victories over Navy and Air Force, showcasing both athletic and academic accomplishments.