Watch: Trump Delivers West Point Commencement Address to Lively Cadets

On Saturday, President Donald Trump delivered the commencement address at West Point in New York.

He was greeted with loud "USA! USA!" chants.

Trump praised the achievements of the cadets, calling them "winners," and saying, "You came from excellence, you came for duty." He told them it would be a day they "[will] never, ever forget":

.@POTUS at West Point: Every cadet on the field before me should savor this morning — because this is a day you will never forget. In a few moments, you will become graduates of the most ELITE and storied military academy in human history. pic.twitter.com/hTkMgBnJkF
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 24, 2025

“In a few moments, you’ll become graduates of the most elite and storied military academy in human history,” Trump said at the ceremony at Michie Stadium. “And you will become officers of the greatest and most powerful army the world has ever known.

He gave special attention to one cadet, Chris Verdugo, whom he called to the stage and commended for completing an 18.5-mile march on a freezing night in January in only two hours and 30 minutes:

HAPPENING NOW: President Trump brings up onstage West Point graduate Chris Verdugo, who, broke the international record for an 18 mile hike at two hours, 30 mins flat…

“I wanna see this guy,” Trump said.

Source: Fox News pic.twitter.com/ewBjpywvOo
— Trevor Thacker (@trethack24) May 24, 2025

He reminded them of famous names in whose footsteps they are following, from "Black Jack" Pershing to Dwight D. Eisenhower:

.@POTUS: "As you receive your commissions as Second Lieutenants, each of you continues down the same hallowed path walked by the titans and legends of U.S. Military lore." pic.twitter.com/IHjEOq4L9I
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 24, 2025

The president also spoke about the mission of the military, that it was not to "spread democracy to everybody...at the point of a gun," but rather It is "to dominate...and annihilate any threat to America, anywhere, anytime and anywhere."

He highlighted "peace through strength," noting how he was helping to strengthen the military.

"If the United States is under attack, the Army will obliterate our opponents with overwhelming strength and devastating force," Trump said. But he would rather they not have to fight:

"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."

That's what's long been needed, to only foster "peace through strength" so you don't have to fight, as well as putting the interests of America first. Both of those things were sorely lacking under Biden and will make things safer for these military members.

Trump was amused by the reaction the cadets had when he mentioned "China," but he wrapped up by congratulating them again:

👀👀 West Point Army graduates with an INTERESTING reaction... sounds like they view China as an enemy and not Russia...

Trump: "I'm gonna go back now to deal with Russia..." *silence*... "to deal with CHINA... *boos*" pic.twitter.com/lMv0O4Hyp3
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 24, 2025

He said they would "keep winning, and with you, the job is easy."

You can watch the president's full speech here.

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