Trump MAGAfies West Point

President Donald Trump addressed West Point graduates in a Saturday morning speech that quickly veered from remarks about American military prowess to what sounded more like a political rally — tying an institution refashioned under his administration’s anti-diversity, equity and inclusion policies to his broader political agenda.

Appearing in his classic red “Make America Great Again” campaign hat, Trump began addressing the crowd of just over 1,000 cadets by extolling the achievements of their class and inviting a handful of graduates to join him on stage.

While he lauded the academic achievements of some students, including eight cadets who had designed a hypersonic rocket, Trump also invited graduates who had demonstrated feats of strength and endurance to join him on stage, underscoring the message of might his administration has sought to broadcast.

And it didn’t take long for the president to shift into rally mode.

“In a few moments, you’ll become graduates of the most elite and storied military academy in human history. And you will become officers of the greatest and most powerful army the world has ever known,” Trump said. “And I know, because I rebuilt that army, and I rebuilt the military. And we rebuilt it like nobody has ever rebuilt it before in my first term.”

Trump has long mixed his duties as commander in chief with his political brand. He named a number of close allies to the boards overseeing the nation’s top military academies. And Trump is boosting a military parade to celebrate the Army’s 250th anniversary this summer in Washington — which just so happens to coincide with his birthday.

“I am proud to announce that we will be hosting a magnificent Parade to honor the United States Army’s 250th Birthday,” he wrote on Truth Social earlier this week. “For two and a half centuries, our brave soldiers have fought, bled, and died to keep us FREE, and now we will honor them with a wonderful Parade, one that is worthy of their service and sacrifice.”

Trump, who in the earliest weeks of his presidency stripped the military of all mention of diversity, equity and inclusion policy and rhetoric, proceeded Saturday to boast about his efforts to reshape the force — and the country, which he said was in its “golden age” thanks to his leadership.

“We’ve liberated our troops from divisive and demeaning political trainings,” Trump said. “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.”

He also shared similar stories to his political rallies — including an oft-referenced claim that “I went through more investigations” than Al Capone. Trump last addressed West Point graduates as president in 2020, largely sidestepping the crises of the day then.

His predecessor, Joe Biden, addressed graduates in 2024 — never directly mentioning Trump by name, but repeatedly emphasizing protecting democracy that had similar messages to his campaign against his then-opponent.

After bringing to the stage graduating West Point football quarterback Bryson Daily on Saturday — who Trump said had a shoulder like a “piece of steel” upon shaking his hand — Trump later referred back to Daily to illustrate a point about “men playing in women’s sports.”

“I wouldn’t want to have to tackle, as an example, Bryson, as a man. But I don’t think a lot of women want to tackle him,” the president said.

Daily wasn’t the only cadet to receive Trump’s flattery. The president multiple times referenced the attractiveness of the crowd of graduates, at one point telling another cadet he invited to the stage, “you’re a handsome guy.”

“These are good-looking people, I’ll tell you,” Trump continued. “Look like all a bunch of male models — I can’t stand it.”