President Donald Trump addressed the graduating class at West Point's commencement ceremony, lauding the cadets for their exceptional intellect, courage, and integrity.
"You have the brightest minds," he declared, "along with the bravest hearts and the noblest souls." This marked Trump's return to the prestigious military academy, having previously delivered the commencement speech in 2020.
As reported by Breitbart, Trump began his address by urging the cadets to cherish the momentous occasion. "Every cadet on the field before me should savor this morning because this is a day that you will never, ever forget," he stated.
He went on to highlight the significance of their achievement, noting, "In a few moments, you will become graduates of the most elite and storied military academy in human history, and you will become officers in the greatest and most powerful army the world has ever known. And I know because I rebuilt that army, and I rebuilt the military," he added, drawing enthusiastic applause from the audience.
The President took the opportunity to commend several cadets for their remarkable accomplishments. Among them were four Rhodes Scholars, Army Football's Quarterback Bryson Daily, and Chris Verdugo, who set a new international record for an 18.5-mile march in freezing conditions, completing it in 2 hours and 30 minutes13 minutes faster than the previous record.
Trump invited both Daily and Verdugo to join him on stage, where Daily expressed his gratitude and excitement for the future, saying, "Go Army football. Shout out the Hogs, H4. Cant wait to graduate. Love you guys."
Trump praised Daily for choosing a military career over professional sports, quoting the quarterback's earlier statement, "Im focused on my career as an infantry officer." The President commended this decision, asserting, "So, Bryson, you did the right thing, and thats service at its finest."
Verdugo, in turn, acknowledged the support of his classmates, stating he "couldnt have done it without any" of them and expressing his affection for his peers. In a lighthearted moment, Trump addressed the "Century Men," cadets who had accrued 100 hours of disciplinary "tour punishments," and announced, "So in keeping with tradition, I hereby pardon all cadets on restriction for minor conduct offenses, effective immediately. So youre all okay," eliciting cheers from the crowd.
Throughout his speech, Trump reiterated his admiration for the graduates, emphasizing their exceptional qualities. "I could not be more proud to serve you as your commander-in-chief," he concluded, underscoring his commitment to the nation's military and its future leaders.
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