President Donald Trump honored fallen soldiers and laid out his second term agenda of rebuilding and refocusing military efficiency while delivering a commencement speech at West Point on Saturday.
“Let me begin by saying congratulations to the West Point Class of 2025,” Trump said after taking the stage to chants of “USA, USA” at Michie Stadium in New York. “Every single one of you. Today I can proudly say mission accomplished, great job.”
The speech marked the president’s first military commencement address of his second term. He told the 1,002 graduating cadets that West Point is “the “most elite and storied military academy in human history.”
Trump pointed to failures of past administrations and the painful history of unnecessary foreign entanglements in vowing to return to merit-based systems and the military traditions that have long defined the nation.
“The job of the U.S. is not to host drag shows or transform foreign countries, to spread democracy to everybody around the world at the point of a gun. The military’s job is to dominate and foe and annihilate any threat to America, anywhere, anytime and anywhere,” the president said.
Trump further emphasized his commitment to “peace through strength,” a Reagan-era phrase the president has long subscribed to when building up American military power.
“If the United States is under attack, the army will obliterate our opponents with overwhelming strength and devastating force,” Trump said. “That’s why this nation has begun a colossal buildup of the United States armed forces, a buildup like you never had before.”
“Because as much as you want to fight, I’d rather do it without having to fight. I just want to look at them and have them fold — and that’s happening.”
In a touching moment, the president recognized cadet Ricky McMahon, whose father, Lieutenant Colonel Michael McMahon, was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2004.
“Ricky’s great grandfather served in World War I. His grandfather served in World War II, and his uncle, father, and mother all graduated from West Point,” Trump said after asking the cadet to stand up. “In 2004, when Ricky was just a little, little tiny boy, who would think about that Ricky, a little tiny boy? His dad, Lieutenant Colonel Michael McMahon, made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation in Afghanistan.”
“Last year, two decades after losing his father, Ricky placed a gold chip from his dad’s 1985 class ring into a crucible along 87 other rings were with it, of past West Point grads that were melted down to forge those now worn by the class of 2025,” the president then revealed.
“Each of you will carry Michael’s memory with you always as you continue the legacy he gave you and gave you something that would be so proud, he would be so proud. He is proud. He looks down to Ricky and his mom, Jeanette, you embody what this place is all about. And I know Michael, he’s up there, he’s smiling broadly, so proud. He’s so proud of you today, you know that.”
