WEST POINT, NY – May 25, 2025
At the United States Military Academy’s graduation ceremony today, former President Donald Trump delivered an address emphasizing the importance of military culture, honor, and the enduring legacy of American strength. Speaking to the Class of 2025, Trump underscored the sacrifices of military service while calling for a robust focus on national defense.
Trump opened his remarks by urging graduates to “hold on to your culture and your traditions because that’s what makes something really great — and that’s what’s made the Army great.” He drew a parallel between military units, businesses, and nations by stating, “Whether we’re talking about a battalion, a business, a sports team, or even a nation, history has shown that in many ways, culture is destiny — so do not let anyone destroy the culture of winning. You have to win.”
In a nod to the distinctive path taken by service members, Trump contrasted traditional career choices with the discipline required at West Point. “Instead of stock options … you chose honor and you chose sacrifice. Instead of business suits and dress shoes, you chose muddy boots and fatigues and keeping yourselves in shape — because West Point cadets don’t just have the brightest minds, you also have the bravest hearts and the noblest souls,” he stated, eliciting applause from the audience.
Addressing the role of the military, Trump said, “The job of the U.S. Armed Forces is not to host drag shows, to transform foreign cultures, or to spread democracy to everybody around the world at the point of a gun. The military’s job is to dominate any foe and annihilate any threat to America — anywhere, any time, and any place.” His comments reinforced his message that preserving the nation’s military strength is paramount.
Trump also referenced America’s storied military history, citing examples from key battles and campaigns. “From Lexington to Yorktown, from Gettysburg to Sicily, and from Inchon to Fallujah, America has been won and saved by an unbroken chain of soldiers and patriots who ran to the sound of the guns, leapt into the maw of battle, and charged into the crucible of fire to seize the crown of victory — no matter the odds, no matter the cost, no matter the danger.”
The ceremony was marked by poignant moments as well. Trump recognized Cadet Ricky McMahon, whose father, Lt. Col. Michael McMahon, died in Afghanistan in 2004 and is interred at the West Point cemetery. “Last year, two decades after losing his father, Ricky placed a gold chip from his dad’s 1985 class ring into a crucible along with 87 other rings, forging those now worn by the Class of 2025,” Trump noted, adding that every graduate will carry Michael McMahon’s legacy with them throughout their careers.
Trump also singled out Cadet Chris Verdugo for breaking an international record. “Last January, when more than 1,000 cadets volunteered for an 18-and-a-half-mile march on a freezing winter night, Cadet Verdugo completed the task in two hours and 30 minutes flat — smashing the international record for the competition by 13 minutes,” he said. “That really is the definition of Army strong.”
Concluding his address, Trump reminded the graduates of the historic significance of the day. “Every cadet on the field before me should savor this morning because this is a day you will never, ever forget. In a few moments, you will become graduates of the most elite and storied military academy in human history and you will become officers in the greatest and most powerful Army the world has ever known.”
