Trump West Point Speech: Bizarre Commencement Remarks
- President Donald Trump delivered a wide-ranging commencement address at West Point on Saturday, touching on topics from military readiness to his own perceived persecution.
- Armed forces should not "host drag shows" or focus on "transforming foreign cultures," but instead prioritize spreading democracy.This comes after the Department of Defense clarified that military bases...
- The president also spoke about new military aircraft, expressing some skepticism about stealth technology.
President Trump’s West Point speech was a whirlwind of unexpected claims and comparisons. He delivered a commencement address that touched on drag shows, military might, and his own legal battles, painting a picture of the nation’s readiness while simultaneously focusing on his personal grievances. The speech strayed far from traditional commencement remarks,even omitting the usual handshake with graduating cadets. Explore startling statements about critical race theory combined with recruitment challenges, and claims about investigations drawing parallels to Al Capone. News Directory 3 reports on how these pronouncements contrast sharply with facts. Wondering what’s next for the planned military parade?
Trump’s West Point Speech: Drag Shows, Stealth Planes, and Al Capone Comparisons
Updated May 24, 2025
President Donald Trump delivered a wide-ranging commencement address at West Point on Saturday, touching on topics from military readiness to his own perceived persecution. The speech, lasting nearly an hour, included praise for the graduating cadets, but also featured several controversial and factually questionable statements.
Trump asserted that the U.S. Armed forces should not “host drag shows” or focus on “transforming foreign cultures,” but instead prioritize spreading democracy.This comes after the Department of Defense clarified that military bases cannot host drag shows. He also reiterated his “peace through strength” mantra, suggesting his approach would deter conflict, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The president also spoke about new military aircraft, expressing some skepticism about stealth technology. He conspicuously omitted mentioning the $400 million luxury jet recently accepted from Qatar, a gift that has drawn criticism due to potential Emoluments Clause violations and security concerns.
Trump claimed his governance had achieved record-breaking peacetime military recruitment numbers. However, reports indicate that recruitment is still lagging compared to earlier in the decade, with recent improvements attributed to reforms initiated under the Biden administration.
Further into the speech, Trump railed against critical race theory and transgender issues, stating ther would be “no more critical race theory or transgender for everybody forced onto our brave men and women in uniform.” He also declared that “we will not have men playing in women’s sports.” These statements come despite the fact that critical race theory is not taught in the military and transgender individuals make up a small percentage of the armed forces.
The president also compared his own legal troubles to those of Al Capone, claiming he had been investigated more than the infamous gangster. This claim is false, as Capone was indicted six times, while Trump has been indicted four times. trump was recently found guilty on 34 felony counts of fraud.
Before departing, Trump broke with tradition by not shaking hands with all the graduates, citing scheduled calls with Russia and China. A White House spokesperson confirmed the calls and added that Trump is planning a military parade to honor soldiers, though the parade is scheduled for Trump’s birthday and could cost millions.
What’s next
The White House is expected to release further details regarding the planned military parade in the coming weeks. The parade’s cost and timing remain subjects of debate.