Trump Takes Credit for ‘Most Powerful Army World Has Known’ During West Point Speech: ‘I Rebuilt the Military’

President Donald Trump made a return to the United States Military Academy at West Point on Saturday to deliver the commencement address to the graduating class of 2025. Trump, wearing his familiar “Make America Great Again” hat, spoke to the 1,002 cadets for nearly an hour. He praised the U.S. Army as the most powerful in the world and credited himself for strengthening it during his presidency.

In his speech, Trump emphasized his focus on prioritizing America’s military strength and protecting the nation from its adversaries. He also highlighted his efforts to eliminate diversity and inclusion programs within the military, stating that promotions and appointments will be based on merit rather than identity politics.

Trump’s address at West Point took place amid ongoing controversies surrounding diversity initiatives at the academy. The institution has faced criticism for dismantling certain clubs and removing works by diverse authors from its libraries. Trump’s administration has been at the forefront of these changes, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announcing the establishment of a task force to eliminate DEI offices within the Department of Defense.

Trump’s speech marked his commitment to reshaping the military’s priorities and undoing what he perceives as divisive and unnecessary training. He criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, for implementing social projects within the armed forces and emphasized his administration’s focus on a merit-based system. The Trump Administration has also reinstated the ban on transgender individuals serving in the military and introduced new physical standards for combat roles, which may impact the number of women serving in such positions.