President Donald Trump took the stage at the US Military Academy at West Point to deliver the commencement address. He was addressing, for the most part, soon-to-be newly minted US Army second lieutenants. There were a few young officers that would enter the other services. What they all had in common, though, was that they were entering an equally newly minted US Armed Forces. After four years of being washed in critical race theory, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a variety of other woke ideologies, these young leaders will a military dedicated to readiness, warfighting, and merit-based advancement regardless of their destination service. For some, that will be a shock.
As the commander-in-chief looked out over the sea of full dress over white uniforms, he was confident the Class of 2025 would become leaders in an Army with renewed purpose and enthusiasm as recruiting numbers are at an all-time high. Following the four ruffles and flourishes, recognizing President Trump’s status as president of the country and commander-in-chief of the US Armed Forces, and “Hail to the Chief,” Trump walked onto the stage at West Point. There was no stiffness in his demeanor as often occurs with many commencement speakers officiating on such occasions. It was certainly different from the 2020 “‘socially distanced’ ceremony, in which grads were spaced roughly eight feet apart to help prevent the coronavirus from spreading among attendees,” Just the News reported.
Taking a page from his campaign rallies, he recognized individual cadets’ amazing achievements and invited them to the stage with him. First, he singled out Cadet Chris Verdugo, who was among 1,000 cadets who volunteered for an 18.5-mile nighttime January march competition in freezing weather. Cadet Verdugo completed the trek in two hours and 30 minutes, beating the international record by 13 minutes. Trump also invited to join him on stage West Point’s graduating football quarterback, Cadet Bryson Daily, who led the Black Knights to a top 20 national standing. Lastly, he recognized Cadet Ricky McMahon, whose great-grandfather served in World War I, grandfather fought in World War II, and uncle, father, and mother graduated from West Point. Cadet McMahon’s father, Lieutenant Colonel Michael McMahon, who was killed in Afghanistan, “rests not far from here in the West Point Cemetery,” Trump told the audience. He wanted to recognize a family that put their patriotism and devotion to America into action.
Trump then gave the soon-to-be US Army leaders some perspective on the military they were entering – the “Golden Age,” as the president put it. He explained that the US Armed forces would no longer be subject to “all manner of social projects and political causes while leaving our borders undefended.” His vision for the US Army is, as he said:
“We are getting rid of the distractions and 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. The job of the US Armed Forces is not to host drag shows, to transform foreign cultures, [and] 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.”
He explained to the cadets that because of their choice to come to West Point, they “chose sacrifice instead of business suits and dress shoes…muddy boots and fatigues and keeping yourself in shape.” Trump told the graduates they “don’t just have the brightest minds, you also have the bravest hearts and the noble souls.”
Trump offered some advice on how to succeed in the profession of arms that each of them had chosen. The first recommendation Trump told them they have done. Choose a job you love. They have done that. Second, the President encouraged them to “think big.” Thirdly, he said you have to work hard. He told the story of the professional golfer Gary Player, who once said, “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” A fourth piece of advice Trump offered was to achieve and maintain momentum. Success will come to the person who keeps the momentum of success. Number five was the encouragement to take risks and dare to do something different in “this time of incredible change.” Lastly, he urged the graduates to “never give up.” They must preserve the culture of winning.
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President Trump was personal, inspiring, and encouraging to those queueing up to join The Long Gray Line of officers, unbroken and molded at West Point to serve the nation. Watching the ceremony, seeing the future of America’s leadership, eager, expectant, evoked memories of General Douglas McArthur’s famous farewell speech to his beloved West Point 63 years ago. “Today marks my final roll call with you. But I want you to know that when I cross the river, my last conscious thoughts will be of the Corps, and the Corps, and the Corps.”
The views expressed are those of the author and not of any other affiliate.