Trump at West Point: The Military's Job Is 'Not to Host Drag Shows' — It Is to 'Dominate Any Foe' (May 24, 2025)

President Donald Trump told West Point’s graduating class what their Army is for, and what it is not for. “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, anytime, and anyplace,” Trump said at the U.S. Military Academy on May 24, 2025, according to the transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

“Every cadet on the field before me should savor this morning, because this is a day that you will never, ever forget. In a few moments, you’ll become graduates of the most elite and storied military academy in human history,” he said [1].

The video above shows Trump’s commencement address at West Point on May 24, 2025. Quotes are from the American Presidency Project [1][2].

”Mission Accomplished”

“You came for excellence. You came for duty. You came to serve your country,” Trump told the cadets. “And you came to show yourselves, your family, and the world that you are among the smartest, toughest, strongest, most lethal warriors ever to walk on this planet. Looking out at all of you today, I can proudly say: Mission accomplished.” [1]

“And I know, because I rebuilt that Army and I rebuilt the military,” Trump said of the Army they were joining [1].

He placed them in a long line of heroes. “Each of you continues down the same hallowed path walked by titans and legends of U.S. military lore—giants like Ulysses S. Grant, John ‘Black Jack’ Pershing, Dwight David Eisenhower, the one and only Douglas MacArthur, ‘Old Blood and Guts’ George Patton, and ‘Stormin” Norman Schwarzkopf,” Trump said [1].

“Nearly one-third of the cadets graduating today are themselves the children of veterans,” he said [1].

”Muddy Boots and Fatigues”

“You chose honor, and you chose sacrifice. And instead of business suits and dress shoes, you chose muddy boots and fatigues,” Trump said [1].

“Because West Point cadets don’t just have the brightest minds; you also have the bravest hearts and the noblest souls. You’re amazing people. I could not be more proud to serve you as your Commander in Chief,” he said [1].

”Those Days Are Over”

“They sent our warriors on nation-building crusades to nations that wanted nothing to do with us, led by leaders that didn’t have a clue in distant lands, while abusing our soldiers with absurd ideological experiments here and at home,” Trump said of past leaders [1].

“We’re getting rid of the distractions, 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 said [1].

“There will be no more critical race theory or ‘transgender for everybody’ forced onto our brave men and women in uniform or on anybody else, for that matter, in this country,” Trump said [1].

“And promotions and appointments will not be based on politics or identity. They’ll be based on merit,” he said [1].

“Gone are the days where defending every nation but our own was the primary thought. We are putting America first,” Trump said [1].

”The Golden Dome”

Trump told the cadets about the missile shield he had announced that week. “We’re building the Golden Dome missile defense shield to protect our homeland and to protect West Point from attack. And it will be completed before I leave office,” he said [1].

“Today, morale in the Armed Forces is soaring to the highest levels in many decades,” Trump said [1].

”Think Big”

Trump gave the graduates advice from one of the academy’s own. “One of your greatest graduates, General Eisenhower, used to say, ‘Whenever I run into a problem that I can’t solve, I always like to make it bigger,’” he said [1].

“So don’t be ashamed, and don’t be afraid. This is a time of incredible change,” Trump said [1].

“Standing before you today, I know that you will never stop, you will never quit, you will never yield, you will never tire. You will never, ever, ever surrender,” Trump said [1].

“Through every challenge and every battle, you’ll stand strong, you’ll work hard, you’ll stay tough, and you will fight, fight, fight and win, win, win,” he said [1].

By the Numbers

1,000: cadets graduating, per Trump [1].
26: graduates wearing the Star Wreath for top academic honors, per Trump [1].
4: Rhodes Scholars in the class, tied for the most since 1959, per Trump [1].
Nearly one-third: graduates who are children of veterans, per Trump [1].

What Happened Next

The Army turned 250. Three weeks later, on June 14, 2025, Trump and the first lady joined troops, veterans and Gold Star families in Washington for a grand parade marking the Army’s 250th birthday. “Our warriors will charge into battle, they will plunge into the crucible of fire, and they will seize the crown of victory because the United States of America will always have the grace of Almighty God and the iron will of the United States Army,” he said, the White House reported [2].

For Trump unveiling the Air Force’s new F-47 fighter, see HYGO News’ page on March 21, 2025. For Pete Hegseth’s confirmation as defense secretary, see the page on Jan. 24, 2025.