Episode 4510: WarRoom Special: Live From West Point

Summary

WarRoom Special: Live From West Point – Episode 4510 Summary

Release Date: May 24, 2025
Host: Stephen K. Bannon
Guests: Patrick K. O'Donnell, Steve Gruber
Location: United States Military Academy at West Point

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Introduction to the Graduation Ceremony

The episode kicks off with a live broadcast from West Point's historic Mikey Stadium, capturing the commencement ceremony of the Class of 2025. Stephen K. Bannon welcomes viewers and outlines the day's schedule: cadets will march in at 9:30 AM EDT, President Donald J. Trump is set to address the graduates at 10:15 AM, followed by diploma presentations.

Notable Quote:
Steve Bannon [00:53]: "It's a historic day, as you said, because Donald Trump's back in the White House. You've got Pete Hegseth rebuilding this military. It's a new future for America."

President Trump's Commencement Address

President Trump delivers an extensive and impassioned speech emphasizing the revitalization of the U.S. military and the removal of "woke" ideologies from military institutions. He underscores the administration's commitment to restoring the military's focus on combat readiness and national defense.

Key Themes:

• Military Strength and Readiness: Trump announces a $1 trillion investment in the military, the largest in U.S. history, aimed at enhancing defense capabilities.
• Cultural Renewal: He criticizes the previous administration's focus on social projects over core military missions, pledging to eliminate practices like Critical Race Theory (CRT) and transgender participation in sports.
• National Security Restructuring: Trump announces the removal of 100 deep-state operatives from the National Security Council, streamlining the council to better serve national interests.
• Historical Legacy: He draws parallels between current reforms and pivotal moments in military history, such as Benedict Arnold's betrayal and the commendable leadership of West Point graduates in past wars.

Notable Quotes:
Trump [72:09]: "Culture is destiny... We have to reinstate a culture of winning."
Trump [132:31]: "You are the first West Point graduates of the golden age of America. This is the golden age, I tell you. Promise."

Discussion on Military Policy Changes

Patrick K. O'Donnell and Steve Gruber delve into the implications of Trump's policies. They highlight the administration's efforts to strip political and social distractions from military training and operations, ensuring that the armed forces remain the premier fighting force globally.

Notable Quote:
Patrick K. O'Donnell [15:00]: "There's something happening with our farmland here in the United States that isn't getting enough attention... We're tightening their grip on global food production."

Restructuring the National Security Council

Bannon discusses the significant restructuring of the National Security Council, emphasizing the removal of personnel deemed unaligned with the administration's mission to strengthen the military. This move is portrayed as a decisive step towards eliminating inefficiencies and deep-state influences.

Notable Quote:
Bannon [07:30]: "We have to be what we are, which is the most powerful military on earth... Because we can't rely on our friends that have allowed themselves to become weak."

Historical Perspective on West Point

The conversation shifts to the rich history of West Point, highlighting its role in shaping some of America's greatest military leaders. O'Donnell provides an in-depth look at the academy's origins, its engineering focus, and its pivotal contributions during conflicts like the Civil War.

Notable Quote:
Steve Gruber [19:37]: "The founders were steeped in the traditions of ancient Rome and Greece, and they saw that the possibility of a standing army being a real threat to the republic."

Observations on the Graduation Ceremony

The ceremony itself is meticulously covered, showcasing notable graduates and their achievements:

• Academic Excellence: 26 graduates received summa cum laude designations, including four Rhodes Scholars.
• Athletic Achievements: The Army lacrosse team is highlighted as the number one ranked team nationally.
• Personal Stories: Trump shares poignant stories, such as that of cadet Ricky McMahon, whose father made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan, underscoring the personal sacrifices behind military service.

Notable Quote:
Steve Gruber [33:47]: "This is a celebration for the families and people who could not be prouder that President Trump is taking time on his schedule today to come and address in a very historic moment."

Trump’s Final Remarks and Vision for the Military

In concluding his address, Trump reaffirms his administration's dedication to making the U.S. military the most formidable force globally. He stresses the importance of maintaining cultural traditions that foster a winning mentality and resilience among soldiers.

Key Points:

• Comprehensive Modernization: Introduction of new technologies and weaponry to maintain military superiority.
• Emphasis on Meritocracy: Promotions and appointments will be based on merit, eliminating biases.
• Hopely Morale Improvements: Trump highlights soaring morale and record recruitment numbers, attributing success to renewed national pride and strategic leadership.

Notable Quote:
Trump [125:14]: "From Lexington to Yorktown... America has been won and saved by an unbroken chain of soldiers and patriots who ran to the sound of the guns, leapt into the maw of battle... You will become officers in the greatest fighting force in the history of the world."

Concluding Thoughts

After the commencement, Bannon and O'Donnell reflect on the transformative nature of Trump's speech and its alignment with the military’s historical legacy of excellence and resilience. They emphasize the significance of the graduating cadets as the torchbearers of America’s military prowess.

Notable Quote:
Bannon [135:57]: "Mose was in the high eight hundreds. Of course, during the Iraq and Afghanistan war. Patrick, correct me if I'm wrong, he committed to a culture of winning. Culture is destiny, and we have to get a culture of winning."

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Conclusion

This special episode of Bannon's War Room offers an in-depth, live coverage of the West Point graduation ceremony, intertwined with strategic discussions on military reforms under President Trump's administration. By blending historical insights with current policy shifts, the podcast provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the U.S. military's evolution and its future trajectory.

Notable Quote:
Steve Gruber [142:39]: "There is a real need to look back at some of these great conflicts, such as the First World War and the Second World War with the United States plays a tremendous role in the success of that war."

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Disclaimer: This summary is based on a partial transcript and may not capture all nuances of the episode.

Transcript

[Steve Bannon]

This is the primal scream of a dying regime. Pray for our enemies because we're going.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

Medieval on these people.

[Steve Bannon]

Reasons I got a free shot on.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

All these networks lying about the people. The people have had a belly full of it. I know you don't like hearing that. I know you try to do everything.

[Steve Bannon]

In the world to stop that, but.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

You'Re not going to stop it.

[Steve Bannon]

It's going to happen.

[Steve Gruber]

And where do people like that go.

[Unknown]

To share the big lie? MAGA MEDIA I wish in my soul.

[Steve Bannon]

I wish that any of these people had a conscience.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

Ask yourself, what is my task and what is my purpose?

[Unknown]

If that answer is to save my.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

Country, this country will be saved.

[Unknown]

WAR ROOM here's your host, Stephen K. Banner.

[Steve Bannon]

It's Saturday, the 24th of May, in the year of our Lord 2025. Want to thank real America's voice for expanded coverage here in the War Room as we cover the graduation ceremony at the United States Military Academy at West Point. The order of battle today is the cadets. The graduating. The first of these should march in to Mikey Stadium. That's the football stadium where graduation takes place. The parents right now are filing in into the football stadium itself. The cadets on the schedule marching at 9:30 Eastern Daylight Time. The president is supposed to come and address the cadets at 10:15, then hand out the diplomas. We understand that may be slightly delayed, but we've got a great crew here today. Steve Gruber is with us at Mikey Stadium live with the Real America Voice crew. I got Patrick K. O' Donnell, who we always do Memorial Day weekend, Saturday and Monday with Patrick K. The best combat historian of his generation is with us in studio. Want to go to Steve Gruber first? Steve, you're there on the field at Mikey Stadium. Put us in the room. Tell us what's going on. What's, what's the feel there?

[Unknown]

Well, the feel is the sun's breaking through, Steve, and it's kind of a good feeling. It's been kind of a cold, blustery wet morning, a lot of ponchos and umbrellas, but they're going away as the sun's breaking through. I think we're having a nice afternoon here with Donald Trump coming like you said, about 10:15. He could be running a few minutes late. But it's a historic day. It is. Together we thrive. 2025 is the theme of this class of the West Point cadets graduating here today. It is a historic day, as you said, because Donald Trump's back in the White House. You've got Pete Hegseth rebuilding this military. It's a new future for America. And of course, on this Memorial Day weekend, we'll head off to Arlington on Monday. But here today, a celebration of some of America's finest young men and women graduating from West Point to take up the American flag and take up the American cause, if you will. It feels good to be here, Steve, to be honest with you. The parents, obviously, if your child goes to West Point, you're proud. It's an accomplishment for not just for the child, but for the family. You know that, Steve It's a remarkable accomplishment for the extended family, especially if they're military families, if they're generational, if it's something that's been passed on from generation to generation. This is a very meaningful and poignant day. So look, the sun's breaking out. I think Donald Trump will be here to deliver an address in what should be pretty decent weather. Cool, but hopefully not raining.

[Steve Bannon]

Steve, One of the things of appointing Hegseth, who was a, who is a combat veteran, and then taking the board and putting people like General Flynn, other graduates, Mo Bannon, General Kellogg's. I think General Kellogg's daughter, who's a graduate, I think the class ahead of Mo put his whole emphasis, number one, was not just get the woken weaponized out of the Pentagon in our and our troops in the field, but as importantly, get it out of these learning institutions of the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and particularly West Point. I think they deemed that West Point might have been the most woke of all of them. Do you think, number one, your observations on that, and number two, do you believe the president will address that specific topic today in his remarks?

[Unknown]

I don't see how he could avoid that topic, Steve, to be honest with you. It's a theme that brought him 77 and a half million votes, to be quite honest. Look, returning the military to its roots, to its, to its heritage, to what it's supposed to be, a fighting force, not fighting for pronouns, but fighting for America. I don't see how you avoid that conversation. I think it'll be mentioned here today. And look, it is a new day here at West Point and all the military academies, whether it's Annapolis or, or out in Colorado, doesn't matter. It's a new day for the military. And Donald Trump has set a new course with Pete Hegseth. And look, Vice President Vance, a US Military Marine veteran. You've got people here that are connected to the military in ways that we haven't seen in, well, a number of years, even In Trump's first administration, he wasn't as focused on making sure America's military was the premier fighting force that it's always been. But returning to that, to that root and to make sure that we're fighting for proper education, that America is the greatest nation on earth. And returning to that theme and not the nonsense and the woke ideology, I think he has to address it here today, Steve, because it's a transition. It's a transformation that will echo not just for 2025, but for years to come if it's implemented fully as they are trying to do. As you know, I mean, Pete Hegseth and Vice President Vance and all the others that you mentioned, General Kellogg and all the rest that you mentioned, working toward a better day for the American military, plus the investments being made in the big beautiful bill, we'll see how that plays out. But obviously a huge investment in the US Military and all of these things come together. I'm going to guess he mentions that as well. The biggest funding the United States military in history going forward and a return to all the things that have made America great, building ships here, building our machinery here, building the things that make the military the strongest in the world, coming back to American shores. I think these are all themes that you'll hear today from President Trump.

[Steve Bannon]

Steve Yesterday, Vice President J.D. vance was at the Naval Academy. He gave the commencement address there. And he said part of his talk, his remarks was about America is no longer a hegemon, that there's competing factions and competing interests and competing geopolitical powers at the same time. Yesterday at about 4 o' clock, there was a notice that went out to the National Security Council that 100 of the detailees, these are the people from CIA, from the Defense Department, from Justice that are seconded to the National Security Council and something that Mike Flynn and I have been fighting for a long time. They were told you got 30 minutes to clear at your desk. If you're not here, we'll go clear it out for you and we'll ship it to anywhere that you want it sent. So 100 of the deep staters were sent back to their, were sent back to their, their, their points of origin. How big a deal is that, that today when President Trump comes to the West Point that we've actually had, I think the biggest restructuring of the National Security Council since really Kissinger and Brzezinski took it from a relatively small operation to expanded in Bush and Clinton and in Obama. Sir.

[Unknown]

You know, it was a remarkable announcement, as you mentioned, about 4 o' clock yesterday afternoon when we heard that. Look, it is a purge of the people that have been working behind the curtain, if you will, Steve, for all of these years and would have continued to do that regardless of administration, regardless of who is in the Oval Office and worked maybe in their own interest or in the interest of not this country. Look, as you look across the pond to the UK Or France or any of these other countries that are supposed to be our allies in Europe right now, could, could the UK Fight any war at this point? I mean, are they capable? It doesn't look that way to me. France, maybe Germany. Questionable. Look, we have to be what we are, which is the most powerful military on earth, because if we're not, we don't have allies that were the way they were at the end of World War II, certainly not even the way they were 25 years ago. And even when Ronald Reagan left office. The fact of the matter is the United States military has to remain the strongest, most prepared military institution in the world because we can't rely on our friends that have allowed themselves to be become weak, have not funded their militaries, have not contributed to NATO, something Donald Trump has talked about a number of times. And the way they're supposed to contribute their percentages, they sent us the bill over and over again. And so you couple that with the announcement yesterday of getting rid of some of these folks that have been working behind the curtain. We'll clear your desk out. If you're not here, you clear your desk out and get out of here. Because we're done with people that aren't working every day to strengthen this military, to defend this nation, to carry us forward into the next generation and the generation after that. I think all of these things come into play. But look, you know it as well as I do, Steve, Those European nations, our NATO allies, are not the nations they used to be, not when it comes to military fighting force.

[Steve Bannon]

I think we right now the camera is picking it up. We've got some of the corps of cadets are coming in, actually, to Mikey Stadium off to the side. That's the cheering you heard. Let's go ahead and keep that. Let's keep the camera over there and let's go to our studio. Patrick K. O' Donnell. Patrick, normally on Memorial Day weekend, particularly on the Saturday, we're doing the special about the most sacred secular holiday that we have in the calendar, which is our honored dead. This is not a Veterans Day. This is for those that gave the ultimate sacrifice, put it in perspective of President Trump actually going up and addressing this class as kind of unbroken chains since the academy was formed back I think in Thomas Jefferson's day as a military engineering school. Your thoughts, sir?

[Steve Gruber]

The greatest military academy in the world. And the tradition and the chain, as you mentioned, continues. This is, you know, fitting that it's a Memorial Day weekend. It's so many of those cadets then go on to be the great battle commanders in American history. And many of them have given their ultimate full measure of devotion. And it's Memorial Day weekend that we honor the fallen, which begins, you know, the tradition of Memorial Day begins with the Civil War origins. Steve?

[Steve Bannon]

Yes, I think actually was the Confederate of Widows, the people just so the logistics to know today that the firsties will file in to will march into Mikey Stadium, they will take their seats, then the president will arrive, he will give his comments. As you know, Patrick and Steve, they actually are graduate. They graduate and get their diplomas as cadets. That's the last official evolution they do as cadets at West Point. Then they go do whatever administrative work they have to do and then change out of this. The last time they're in their cadet uniforms, they change into their, their military uniforms and then they're commissioned in much smaller ceremonies with their parents and someone who is very close to them at the academy or in their family. They're commissioned as second lieutenants. So today they start the day as firsties as cadets, they graduate as cadets, and then shortly thereafter they then do the commemoration of they actually get their they become second lieutenants in the United States Army. And that's a much smaller summary, but a very historic day for the folks that and the families, etc. In fact, many family members actually that are active duty actually give the or do the swearing in as they're and taking their oath to the Constitution as officers in the United States Army. Patrick, you're absolutely correct. How historic this is. And this is why I'm so proud that President Trump determined to come to West Point today because I think that this has been one of the most troubled institutions that kind of got the most off track in the last couple years of being quite frankly, very woke. As you know, as a combat historian, that doesn't really cut it when you're in combat, right? You want it, you want to have a level of excellence that has no does not have anything dealing DEI or wokeness associated with it, sir.

[Steve Gruber]

Woke militaries don't win wars. And it rings true with one of my favorite quotes from an OSS operative from the Brenner assignment Howard Chappell said, nice guys don't win wars either, and that's the truth. It's about combat readiness. It's about being prepared. It's about training and it's about mental toughness and DEI and critical race theory. There's really no place for it in the military, U.S. military.

[Steve Bannon]

Yeah. Well, today Steve Gruber is right. It's been a long grind of four years. It starts in Beast Barracks. It actually starts, I think, the third week of June, right after high school. It's in a summer of called Beast Barracks, the entire summer, which is really their boot camp, even before they become official cadets. Today you've seen the culmination of that, and Gruber is absolutely correct. It is a celebration for the the families and people could not be prouder that President Trump is is taking time on his schedule today to come and address in a very historic moment the return of President Trump as commander in chief. Particularly, he's being assaulted by all these this judicial insurrection that wants to challenge him as commander in chief. Real America's Voice War room Bonus coverage. The firsties are about to march in. We're probably 15, 20 minutes away from that. I want to thank our our sponsors. Birch Gold this is about the Rio Reset. A lot of talk overnight about where the bond market is, what the great big beautiful bill does, what the Senate's going to do. We're going to get to all of that on Tuesday. Plenty of time to grind through that. But you should know right now, make it your homework assignment as you commemorate Memorial Day weekend to go to birchgold.com bandit the end of the dollar empire we didn't think about this overnight. Been working on this for 44 years, the seventh free installment, the Rio Reset. Understand how the the BRICS nations, many of whom are enemies and existential threats to the United States of America, are targeting the US Dollar as the prime reserve currency. Make sure you understand what it means for your country, your community and you personally. Birchgold.com Bannon get it, read it this weekend all free. Short Commercial break We're returned to West Point. The United States military capture in a moment.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

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[Steve Bannon]

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[Unknown]

Here's your host, Stephen K. Band.

[Steve Bannon]

Welcome back. You're seeing right there Mikey Stadium. That's a football stadium, the really, you know, legendary stadium at West Point. So many of the great games and some of the great teams at West Point have played there. So you're not. So Mikey Stadium down below that's kind of on a hill. Down below that is the barracks of the cadets. And the barracks are these magnificent stone buildings. It just looks like a medieval fortress sitting there on the Hudson. If you're on the other side of the Hudson. In fact, Roger Ailes, the great Roger Ailes at Fox News had a house in Garrison which is right across. And if you ever went to Roger's house and looked across, it is like a massive fortress right there in the cliffs of the, of the Hudson. Patrick K. O' Donnell, as you know, West Point has been a little controversial in the past. It was very controversial even to start West Point, 1802, I think in Jefferson's administration. And the reason is that the United States, particularly the revolutionary generation, always had a concern about a standing army. They were very concerned about like for instance, the great military academy. I think it's Saint Cyr in, in France that had, you know, I think Napoleon went there. They also had, they were very concerned about Sandhurst and these in the academy, in the United Kingdom, in England because they didn't want a standing army. They felt the Continental army had contributed with the militias to win the Revolutionary War. But there was a real hesitancy, and, of course, how the program was sold is that the nation was expanding. I mean, the founders of our nation, the revolutionary generation, the first generation all the way through, had a great vision of the United States as a continental power. And to do that, you had to bridge the rivers, you had to create dams, levees, you had to, you know, help navigate the Mississippi. So it was pitched as a military engineering school. In fact, you would need this, really, the Army Corps of Engineers. You would need engineers. And in fact, at first, everyone at West Point essentially majored in engineering. And still, if you go, you have to. If you don't major in engineering, you got to get a minor in engineering. So talk to. The formation of West Point was quite controversial, and Jefferson was not a fan. The only reason he, I think, acceded to it was things like the Lewis and Clark, when they came back and talked about the rivers and what had to happen in the. In this great expanse of the, you know, great expanse. This thing passed in 1802. And I think he became more enthusiastic as he became convinced that the corps of cadets was going to turn out engineers that could actually help build the infrastructure that would build us into a continental power.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

Sir.

[Steve Gruber]

Absolutely, Steve. I mean, the founders were steeped in the traditions of ancient Rome and Greece, and they saw that, you know, the possibility of a standing army being a real threat to the republic. So they were constantly concerned about that. But, you know, things in the wilderness changed things, especially in 1790, the Battle of Wabash, where we had one of the greatest defeats in American history, where an entire American army was wiped out. It's called Sinclair's defeats. You know, 99% of that army was wiped out. And it was about logistics, moving into the interior of the Ohio territory. And so we needed officers who were engineers, but also trained officers. And it's things like in events like Sinclair's defeat, you know, Native Americans, and also the rise of Great Britain. And, you know, The War of 1812 is coming soon. So we need to train military officers in West Point. You know, is. It has its origins with all those things that are going on.

[Steve Bannon]

Let's see if we can pick up. Hang on for a second. Let's see. Can we pick up the sound? It looks like the army band. The historic army band's playing. Can we go ahead and pick up the sound? Let's go ahead and listen to this.

[Unknown]

Now.

[Steve Bannon]

The Army Band we're listening to right now, the army band is not made up of cadets. The reason is that this band is called to perform and really has to be able to execute for the. You do have some cadets in there. But the army band that play is mainly actually regular army personnel because this keeps, this is for all the parades, all the passing reviews, all of it. It's incredibly, incredibly powerful. So we'll dip in and out of this also. Patrick K. O' Donnell, let's bring up the fact that there was a huge effort to actually shut down West Point in the Civil War. It became pretty evident in the first couple of years of the war that the Southern states had maybe been overrepresented in the, in the population and that some of the great commanders, particularly in the first couple of years when the Union army was taken on the chin, although McClellan had gone there and some of his senior staff that people like, you know, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Jeb Stuart, others in so many second and third tier officers in the Confederate army had actually gone to West Point. And you know, it got to be a real controversy in Congress was this a hotbed of succession? And I got to tell you, they had to go through a couple of years where they really were under the pressure because everybody, they had a moment there when, you know, these states succeeded, that they had the corps of cadets and they said, hey, everybody, that's going to go south, go south. And it was a historic moment. But it was a lot of controversy in West Point, sir.

[Steve Gruber]

Absolutely. Some of the greatest commanders in military history were Southern, Southern battlefield commanders. And they were, you know, largely West Point trained. You know, as we saw on the battlefield during the, you know, the Civil War, the South was, you know, outgunned and outmanned, but in many cases their leadership was superior. And many of those officers, as you point out, Steve, were graduates of West Point.

[Steve Bannon]

Let's go ahead and play. Let's go ahead and pick up that music in the background right now, the army band playing all the great military music that West Point is better with. In fact, Jefferson Davis was actually the secretary of war, I think, under President pierce in the mid-1850s. And part of the deal with bringing in the state of Texas into the Union was, as you remember, Patrick, was to form a calvary regiment to fight the Comanches that would be headquartered, start in St. Louis because. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. That the, the, the, the selection of the officers, except for General George Thomas the Rocket Chickamauga who had gone. Also gone to West Point and was a Southerner from Virginia. I think he was the only senior officer in that legendary cavalry regiment that, that fought for the, for the. The North. Just absolute incredible, incredible. The quality of officers. And of course, people pointed when Jefferson Davis became president of the Confederacy. Hey, did somebody rig the. Rigged the game up there at West Point? Because you had all these tremendous battlefield commanders that had gone to West Point. But right there, you see in our split screen, you've got. That's the corps cadets in the stands. That is not the graduates. That's actually the corps itself that has come in. The graduates will be. Will be right there with the white seats are. Let's go to Steve Gruber for a moment. Steve, the stadium is about to. Is filling up. We're a few minutes away from actually the firsties marching in and taking their place in graduation. Give me a sense of things, sir.

[Unknown]

I'll tell you right now, Mr. Bannon. We're getting the instructions right now. The cadets are going to be let in from each side of the street stadium, some from the north, some from the south. And we're getting instructions right now that we'll be seeing those cadets, the graduating cadets of 2025 coming in in just a few moments. You know, I can't help but reflect, you know, West Point, you guys were talking about the Civil War and the history and the great Southern commanders. Great. A great history lesson there. But really, I go back to 1780, when Benedict Arnold was going to surrender this fort to the British in September of 1780. And you reflect that with what's happened over the last four years with WOKE and DEI and all this other nonsense. I find similarities there of surrendering this military academy and then being found out and being caught and then being able to, you know, step back into it and say, wait a second, this is our academy, this is our West Point. This is our country, this is our America, and we're not going to give it up. Benedict Arnold, you can't give it away. And you can flee to the other side and be infamous for the rest of your life. That's kind of the way I feel about what happened here with DEI and Wilk and all the other policies that have been kicked to the curb. Just in the nick of time, George Washington was able to catch Benedict island. And just in the nick of time, Donald Trump was able to come here and put the right people in place and return this military academy and the other military academies to greatness.

[Steve Bannon]

Gruber went deep on that. The dude, I love that this is the reason a Lot of people don't understand. West Point is on the cliffs overlooking the Hudson. In fact, is where the Hudson comes down, I think from Poughkeepsie. And it takes a huge bend right there. This massive river that the Dutch and everyone, when they first discovered the United States, this river was absolutely. And the Hudson was a. Actually such a lifeblood to the country. This is where the Erie Canal was cut up in Albany. That connect us to the Ohio territories that Patrick K. O' Donnell was talking about. But why is West Point. West Point, you absolutely nailed it. That the General Washington during the Revolution we needed to turn the militia into the Continental Army. The first thing you had to do was drill, particularly as European armies fought under the horrific gunfire and volleys you got. You had to know how to stand. You know, you had to know how to stand and deliver. That all came from the beginning of the training of just marching in formations under. There were some mercenaries that had come over, some officers come over from. From Poland and actually. And actually drilled the Continental army right there in the plains. The plains, which hopefully we'll show later. Steve, is. Is this sacred space outside the barracks that only the cadets and the military can stand on. The civilians are not allowed to walk on. That plains is where the Continental or the militia really was turned into an army. The Continental army under tremendous drilling. I think we're going to blow the brake. We're going to go. We're going to take a short commercial break. I think we've got to blow this break because the cadet's going to walk in. Gruber, talk to me about West Point. From the beginning. It's really what formed the Continental army that defeated the. Defeated the British. And that's why it's considered such a sacred space for the American military and for the people in the Republic.

[Unknown]

It's been the cornerstone of the American military from the beginning. Like you said, this is where they turned the militia into the Continental Army. And then you went through obviously Benedict Arnold being caught and. And found out and fled to the British army as a major general had. Had fought with distinction the Revolutionary War. As you pointed out. Then of course you've got. Robert E. Lee was trained here. So was Ulysses S. Grant. On opposite. Opposite ends of their classes. I might remind you. I think Robert E. Lee was first. Ulysses S. Grant was towards the bottom of his class. And yet as war goes, you were still trained by the best in the world. And then you move on to World War II. Go ahead.

[Steve Bannon]

Hey, Gruber, hang. Hey, Steve, hang on one second. We are going to take a break here. We're going to turn Steve Gruber at West Point, Patrick K. O' Donnell in the House. Short commercial break. Will return to the military academy in a moment.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

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[Steve Bannon]

Do it today.

[Unknown]

The singing of the alma mater, the administration of the oath of office to the graduating class, the singing of the army song and for the benediction. After The Class of 2025 marches into Mikey Stadium, you will hear the order Sound Attention marking the official start of the graduation ceremony. It is customary to rise at the bugle call of sound attention as well as for the arrival of the official party and our guest speaker, the 45th and 47th president of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump. After the official party has been announced and has arrived at the platform, please remain standing and render appropriate courtesies for honors to the president and for the national anthem of the United States of America. Uniformed service members will salute, military veterans are encouraged to salute, and civilians are asked to please show the same courtesy to our nation by removing your hat and placing your right hand on over your heart. We encourage you to join in the singing of our national anthem at its completion. We ask that you remain standing for the invocation. As a courtesy, please also rise when the president completes his address to the class of 2025 and remain standing for the President's departure. The Secretary of the army will present diplomas to those cadets awarded summa cum laude designation, the class valedictorian, the cadet first captain, the class president and the Army Athletic association trophy winners. The remaining graduates will receive their diplomas alphabetically by company. Cadets in the first and second regiments will be seated on the north side of the stadium to your left. Cadets in the third and fourth regiments will be seated on the south side of the stadium to your right. After today's ceremony, The Class of 2025 will participate in the time honored traditional of the cadet hat toss. Once the distribution of diplomas to the graduating class begins, those wishing to participate in the hat toss may move to the screening point at the ramp located in the southwest corner of the stadium. Only children may participate in this ceremony provided that they meet the following they must be 4 to 10 years old, between 42 inches and 54 inches tall, and accompanied by a parent or guardian who is 18 years or older. All participants must enter the screening point to participate in the hat toss. The child must be accompanied from the initial screening point to the completion of the hat toss. Parents or guardians and children may enter the staging area only after the child meets the criteria for participation. Parents must remain on the field in appropriate staging area for their child to participate. Parents are not authorized to collect a hat or accompany their child to the hat toss collection area. Participants will take all directives from the officers, non commissioned officers, event staff, security personnel and cadets directing the event. Children may only pick up one hat following the ceremony. Shuttle bus transportation will be available from Mikey Stadium to all major parking lots. The shuttle will run a continuous loop to these stops until approximately 6pm for our ADA guests and those with limited mobility. Transportation is available at Gate 7 outside the Southwest corner of the stadium to Efflot. Be courteous and cautious as you leave the stadium bar pending ceremonies begin at.

[Steve Bannon]

2Pm on the kids. Finally, that can be part of the hat toss. The traditional hat toss. Steve Gruber we're moments away from the, from the, from the firsties marching in from both sides. What do you got for us?

[Unknown]

What have I got for you? I've got you sunshine. Mr. Bannon. It's turned into a beautiful day. It was just honestly a cold, rainy, kind of a lousy morning, but it has turned into a sun filled day. It kind of is the spirit of the day really. We talked about, you know, the woke ideology, the dei, that stuff's all making way for a new day. In the military. We Talked about Benedict Arnold, you know, George Washington stopping him just in time. And I think in many respects Donald Trump stopping that nonsense just in time and returning this military to where it is going to be. Which is the preeminent military in the United States. This is the preeminent military academy. And I can tell you the cadets are ready to come in now. We've heard all of the preparatory remarks and we're about to see them. And here they come.

United States Military.

[Steve Bannon]

Here they come. This is the graduating class of 2025 of the United States Military Academy walking into Mikey historic Mikey Stadium. Symbolically, they come in from part from the north and part from the south.

[Unknown]

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the United States Military Academy Class of 2020.

It it.

[Steve Bannon]

Okay, that is the long gray line, I think I'm pretty sure that's the first time on national TV that's ever been shown the entire marching in of the. That's the first. He's normally start with about 1200, I think right under a thousand will will graduate. Let's go back to the podium into the ceremony.

[Unknown]

1975, which will celebrate its 50th class reunion here at West Point this fall has developed a special relationship with the Class of 2025. Since June 2020, members of the Class of 1975 have engaged with and supported the Class of 2025 every step of the way from our day to graduation. The cadet phase of bonding and mental reunion here at West Point this fall has developed a special relationship with the Class of 2025. Since June 2020, members of the Class of 1975 have engaged with and support supported the Class of 2025 every step of the way from our day to graduation. The cadet phase of bonding and mentorship between these two classes culminates today when the Class of 1975 presents a set of Second Lieutenant bars engraved with 7525. The representatives of the Class of 1975 presenting the bars have distinguished records of service to the armed forces and the nation during times of war and in peace. I will introduce them to you now. Seated on the north side of the dais to your left, the honorable Robert Wesley Hayes Jr. Class of 1975, President and Dr. William Forrest Crane, Class of 1975, Vice President, United States army, retired. Seated on the south side of the dais to your right, Lieutenant General Mark P. Hertling, United States army retired, and Mr. Timothy F. Chugru. Gentlemen, we welcome you back to attend this special graduation ceremony. It is a pleasure and honor to have you here with us today. Ladies and gentlemen, how about a round of applause for the Class of 1975 and their auspices. Outstanding dedication to the Class of 2025. Ladies and gentlemen and members of the Class of 25. Just as the long gray line represents the connection of all graduates throughout the academy's storied history, today's faculty processional recognizes the dedication and academic excellence of all United States Military Academy faculty, both past and present. Please welcome representatives of the faculty of the United States Military Academy.

S.A.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the platform our distinguished guests United States Congressman from the state of Arkansas and West Point Board of Visitors Chairman the the Honorable Steve Womack, United States Representative for New York's 18th congressional district and West Point class of 2004 the Honorable Pat Ryan, the Commandant of Military Academy Command Sergeant Major Cadets Command Sergeant Major General Phil RJ Garcia the Dean of the Academic Board Brigadier General Shane R. Reeves the athletics director Mr. Thomas Theodorakis the senior advisor for character integration Dr. Jeff Peterson, the West Point chief of staff Colonel Kahn deep the United States Military Academy Command Sergeant Major Command Sergeant Major Phil Barreto the United States Corps of Cadets Command Sergeant Major Command Sergeant Major Tony Powers, members of the academic board and other senior academy leaders.

[Steve Bannon]

As soon as it's corrected there you saw the long gray line march in. Then the faculty and the Command Sergeant Major and other military personnel that help manage the corps. We're waiting. We understand cell service is kind of tough right now because we're waiting for the pre. I think the president's actually physically arrived at the academy and he should be right now scheduled for 10:15, although they told us it might be up to a 30 minute delay. So as soon as we can get coverage back audio. Do we have Steve Gruber? Can we get Gruber on the. On the floor? He's on the rise. That might be restricted too. Right there you see the long gray line. That is the graduating class the class of 2025. As I said, they start about around 1100 or 1200 cadets in what is beast barracks or Right. The preamble to their. Their plebe year. That's the 90 days of boot camp they have on the. On the plains of. Of West Point and in the barracks the and by the way, we're going to go back to audio as soon as we restore audio here. The in about 900 or under a thousand graduate that is because of athletic Some are delayed because of athletic injuries some are delayed because of military injuries of some of the evolutions they go through. Some academically are rolled back and then Some just drop out. The academy is not for them. You see a lot of that in beast barracks that first 90 days as they. They participate. Patrick K. O' Donnell. We can't get Steve Gruber. He's actually on in the stadium. I think there's a little audio problem. We're going to try to pick that up as soon as they. Technically there's Mikey Stadium. That's the parents of the graduates right there. And you get the corps cadets off to the side. There's no audio issue. Okay?

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

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[Steve Bannon]

The president's supposed to address the Corps at 10:15. So the ceremony will be. The president will come and address then they'll give out the. I think they give out the diplomas and then the cadets go. This is the last time they'll be in their cadet uniforms for evolution. They will go back obviously photographs with the family. They'll change to quickly administrative stuff about making sure they're totally checked out. Then they will reunite with their families for a smaller ceremony individually of commissioning. So today they start the day and go through the day as. As cadets in their first class year and then they end the day halfway through they. They become second lieutenants in the. In the. In the army. There's a core cadets coming to attention.

[Unknown]

Attention ladies and gentlemen. Please rise for the entrance of the official party.

Present arms.

Present arms.

Ladies and gentlemen, Please welcome the 25th Secretary of the army, the Honorable Daniel P. Driscoll.

It.

The 41st Chief of Staff of the Army. General Randy A. George. The 61st Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, Lieutenant General Stephen W. Gillen.

S.A.

Ladies and gentlemen, the 45th and 47th President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump.

S.A.

Sam.

Days or stage on cook her arms uncover Staff on cover.

Ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing for the invocation by the United States Military Academy. Chaplain, Colonel David Bolas.

I invite you to pray with me. Praise be to the Lord, my rock who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle. Almighty God, we are gathered here with hearts full of gratitude and pride as we witness the graduation of the west point class of 2025. We thank you for bringing each graduate to this major milestone today. We thank you especially for your presence when they were plebes under pressure. For providing patience as they learn to lead as yearlings. For their commitment and courage to affirm as cows. And for faithful friends who will finish together as firsties. And just as you have been faithful in the past, be their ever present help in the future. Thank you for the teammates around them, their family and friends, Instructors and sponsors, TACs and trainers, mentors, and yes, even their tormentors who stood with them over the last four years. Through them, you ensure these West Point graduates are prepared to lead America's sons and daughters in peacetime and in war. Bless this ceremony today with your presence. Bless our President as he leads and inspires us, and God bless the United States of America. In your holy name, I pray. Amen.

[Steve Bannon]

Seats.

[Unknown]

Please.

Be seated. Staff, recover. Take seats. Staff dismissed.

Please welcome the 61st Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, Lieutenant General Stephen W. Gilland.

Mr. President, Congressman Womack, Congressman Ryan, Secretary Driscoll, General George. Our Chief of Staff of the army, distinguished guests and alumni, teammates, family and friends, ladies and gentlemen, good morning and welcome to West Point, home of the United States Military Academy. We are tremendously honored to have you here today to celebrate the 1002 outstanding cadets of the Class of 2025 as they graduate in commission as the newest officers and leaders of character in your United States Army. First, a very special welcome to the parents, grandparents, siblings, family and friends of our graduates who are here today. Let's give them a round of applause. Thank you all for the love and support and encouragement that you've given your cadet along their journey at the United States Military Academy. I'd like to acknowledge the members of the 50 year affiliate class for our graduating class, the Courage and drive class of 1975. Thank you all for supporting Mentoring and inspiring these new leaders over the past 44 years. You are all wonderful exemplars of leadership, excellence and selfless service. And we are grateful to you for demonstrating the strength of the Long Gray Line to this outstanding class. Class of 2025. Together, we thrive. Congratulations and well done. Today, your cadet experience at West Point may come to an end, but today really marks a milestone in your personal journey as you assume the mantle of leadership. As officers in our army, we know you all are looking forward to what's ahead. Travel school, Bullock Ranger school, Sapper school, moving, living on your own. Some of you are getting married in, like, the next six hours. That's right. However, for all of you, I just ask of you, take a moment. Take a moment. During the next few weeks, while you're enjoying some free time to reflect on your time here. Think about all the opportunities and experiences that you've had and the challenges you've overcome on the road to becoming a leader of character. Think about the hard work, some blood, a lot of sweat, as well as a grit, toughness, determination, and the continual pursuit of excellence. Think about the friends you've made and the relationships developed, the camaraderie with teammates, the TACs, instructors, coaches and old grads who've encouraged and mentored you and the family and friends who supported you and cheered you on. Take a moment to appreciate and thank all the people who've helped you get to this point. And be grateful for all the experiences and opportunities that have helped shape you these past four years. As you pursue this journey as a leader of character, remember, today is about the responsibility of service. Service to our country and to the American people. Today is about challenging yourself, challenging others to be better. Better teammates, better officers, better leaders of character. It starts with you. Each and every day. Today is also about the responsibility of leadership. As army officers. Your responsibility to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, to be standard bearers, to lead by example and embody what right looks like. Most importantly, today is about your responsibility, your obligation to the citizens of our nation and to your soldiers, America's sons and daughters, to give them your very best leadership every single day. Also, take a moment to reflect and understand what it means to be a graduate of the United States Military Academy. People expect more from you as a graduate of this institution. You represent this institution and you represent the United States army every single day. You now join a proud legacy of leaders of character who've committed themselves to selfless service and continual excellence, guided by our army values and the ideals of Duty, honor, country. Those ideals, they unify us, and they define us. They define who you are as graduates of the United States Military Academy. And just as they've inspired you, you will now, in turn, inspire future generations. The class of 2025, you are ready to face the challenges that await you, prepared to live honorably, lead honorably, and demonstrate excellence in everything that you do. Congratulations and Godspeed to all of you. Mr. President, on behalf of the team at the United States Military Academy, it is an honor to present this outstanding class to you this morning as our nation's newest war fighters and leaders of character. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to to introduce this morning's Commencement speaker, the 45th and 47th President of the United States, President Donald J. Trump.

Well, I want to thank you very much. This is a beautiful place. I've been here many times, going to high school, not so far away. A good place. Also a military academy, not quite of this distinction, but it was a lot of fun for me. And I just want to say hello, cadets. And on behalf of our entire nation, let me begin by saying congratulations to the west point class of 2025. You are winners, every single one of you. Thank you. And now we want you to relax. And I'm supposed to say at ease, but you're already at ease. You're at ease because you made a great choice in what you're doing. Your choices in life have been really amazing. So this is a celebration, and let's have a little fun. I want to thank your highly respected Superintendent General Stephen Gilland. And he is really something. I got to know him backstage with his beautiful family and his reputation. His wife is just incredible. His reputation is unbelievable. And thank you very much. And your daughter is a winner also, just like everybody out there, a real winner. Thank you. Thank you. I also want to thank Commandant General R.J. garcia, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, Army Chief of Staff General Randy George, Senator Ashley Moody, Representatives Steve Womack, Bill Huizenga, Pat Ryan, Mark Green, Keith Self, Acting U.S. attorney Alina Haber, and very much just all of the friends. We have a lot of friends in the audience today, and I just want to thank them all for being here. We have a tremendous amount of my friends. They wanted to come up and they wanted to watch this ceremony, and they wanted to watch you much more so than me. So I just want to thank so many people here. Over the past four years, an extraordinary group of professors, teachers, coaches, leaders and warriors have transformed this class of cadets into an exceptional group of scholars. And soldiers. And so let's give the entire group, the entire West Point faculty, the staff, for their incredible love of you and outstanding devotion to the corps. Let's give them a little hand. And importantly, we can't forget all of those people beaming with pride. Look at them in the audience. They're so proud. They're in the stands. So thank your parents, your grandparents and family members who made this all possible for you. Thank you. And I think they must have done something right based on what I'm looking at. America loves our military moms and dads. Nearly one third of the cadets graduating today are themselves the children of veterans. So to everyone with us this morning who served America in uniform, no matter your age, please stand so we can salute your service. We'd like to see who you are. Congratulations. Great job. Every cadet on the field before me should savor this morning because this is a day that you will never, ever forget. 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. You came for duty. You came to serve your country. And you came to show yourselves, your family, and the world that you are among the smartest, toughest, strongest. I felt it before in my first term. Your experience here at West Point has been anything but easy. But you do not come to the U.S. military Academy for the word easy. You came for excellence. You came for duty. You came to serve your country. And you came to show yourselves, your family, and the world that you are among the smartest, toughest, strongest, most lethal warriors ever to walk on this planet. Looking out at all of you today, I can proudly say, mission accomplished. Great job. But now you have to go on. You have to forget that. Because now you have another. It's a sad thing, isn't it? You know, can't rest on your laurels. No matter what. You just have to keep going. You take it. You take a little day off, and you go on to the rest. Because you have to have victory after victory after victory. And that's what you're going to have as you receive your commissions as second lieutenants. Each of you continues down the same hallowed path walked by titans and legends of US Military law. Giants like Ulysses S. Grant, John Blackjack Pershing, Dwight David Eisenhower, the one and only Douglas MacArthur. Old blood and Guts George Patton and Stormon, Norman Schwarzkopf. All great. So many more. They and countless other patriots before you have walked out of these halls and straight into history. And today you officially join those immortal heroes in a proud ranks of the Long Gray Line. You know that term so beautiful. The Long Gray Line line. Among the 1,000 cadets graduating today, 26 of you wear the prestigious star wreath signifying the highest level of academic achievement. Please stand up. 26. Let's see if somebody stands who shouldn't be standing. Congratulations. That's a big honor. This class includes an incredible four Rhodes Scholars. Stand up, please. Four. Wow. That's tied for the most of any west point class since 1959. That's great. For. Congratulations. Boy, oh, boy, oh, boy. I want to bring them right to the Oval Office. I don't want to have them go too far away from me. Eight cadets here today took on the challenge of designing their own hypersonic rocket. Oh, we can use you. We're building them right now. You know, we. We had our stolen. We had. We are the designer of it. We had it stolen during the Obama administration. They stole it. You know. Who stole it? The Russians stole it. Something bad happened. But we're now. We're the designer of it, and we're now building them and lots of them. And earlier this year, they launched it into space, setting a world record for amateur rocketry. Can't get you in there fast enough. This class excelled not only mentally, but also physically. Last January, when more than 1,000 cadets volunteered for an 18 and a half mile march on a freezing winter night. Cadet Chris Verdugo completed the task in 2 hours and 30 minutes flat, smashing the international record for the competition by 13 minutes. Where is he? Where is he? Come up here. Come up here, Chris. Get up here, Chris. Wow. Come here. That's by 13 minutes. Come here, Chris. I want to see this guy. Wow. 13 minutes. Say something. Come here. Come here. It's been a long five years, but I couldn't have done it with any of these guys. Love you guys all. Thank you. Wow. That's great. Keep it going, Chris. That really is a definition of army strong, isn't it? International. International. This class includes 513 graduates who completed Air Assault School 70 who completed Airborne School 8, who made it through the ultra elite Army Diver School, among the most difficult and grueling programs anywhere on earth. That includes the first two women in West Point history to complete Diver School, Cadets Megan Cooper and Clara Saboo. Where are you? Stand up. Where are they? Wow. Great job. That is not easy. Congratulations, Megan. Clara. That's a job well done. Fantastic. Thank you very much. Some of you achieved a different kind of distinction here at the academy, including 7 century men who completed 100 hours of marching for discipline solidarity. Oh, no. Infractions. No. Don't tell me I'm doing this. Oh, I'm so sorry. Would you like to stand up? I don't. I think I saw Chris standing up. Chris. What? What's going on here? Well, you had one good one. Not so good, right, Chris? Can't believe Chris is standing up. But we want everyone to leave here today. Chris. So you're going to be okay. Because I'm going to do something with a clean slate. So, in keeping with tradition, I hereby pardon all cadets on restriction for minor conduct offenses, effective immediately. So you're all okay? You're all okay. The Class of 2025 is a lot to be proud of, including your first rate athletes and athletics. You are something I've been watching too. I watch. I love the sports stuff. What you've done is pretty amazing. Last year, for the first time ever, army lacrosse became the number one ranked men's lacrosse team in the entire country. Think of that. Those of you on the team stand. That's a big honor. Stand. Great. That's a tough sport too. That's number one in the country. Your sophomore year, army football beat Navy 2017. And the next year you did it again, beating Navy 17 to 11 and dominating Air Force 23 to 3. But this year, the Black Knights fought your way into the top 20 nationally and racked up your longest winning streak since 1949 with the help of graduating quarterback cadet Bryson Daley, or as you call him, Captain America. Captain America. Stand up, Bryson. Where's Bryson? We got to get him up here, right? Come on, Bryson. Man, oh man. I heard. I heard he some. Well, I came to a game and he was. I said, he can get into the NFL. Can he? But he chose this life. And you know what? I think he made a good choice. Come on up here, Bryson. Come on up. Wow.

Go army football.

Shout out the hogs. Age 4.

[Steve Gruber]

Can't wait to graduate.

[Unknown]

Love you guys. Well, I just tapped his shoulders like I hit a piece of steel. Guy's in good shape. There's a reason, you know, there's always a reason for success. Thank you, Bryson. At a time when other top college quarterbacks were thinking about going pro, Bryson's mind was on something else. As he told an interviewer earlier this year, I'm focused on my career as an infantry officer. That's what he wants to do. Joe Bryson, you did the right thing. And that's service at its finest. Thanks Bryson, that's amazing. He's an amazing guy with an amazing team. Each of you on the field today is among the most talented members of your generation. You could have done anything you wanted. You could have gone anywhere. You could have gone to any school. This is one of the hardest schools to get into. And writing your own ticket to top jobs on Wall street or Silicon Valley wouldn't be bad. But I think what you're doing is better. Instead of sports teams and spreadsheets and software, you chose a life of service, very important service, instead of stock options. And I do that stuff. It's sort of boring, honestly, compared to what you're doing. It's real boring. You chose honor and you chose sacrifice. And instead of business suits and dress shoes, you chose muddy boots and fatigues. Keeping yourself in shape, because West Point cadets don't just have the brightest minds, you also have the bravest hearts and the noblest souls. You're amazing people. I could not be more proud to serve you as your commander in chief. And our country is doing well. We've turned it around very quickly. We've turned it around. I just got back from the Middle east, and I was at, as you know, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, uae, and I will tell you, they said, all three leaders, great leaders of those three nations, they all said the same thing. The United States of America is hotter now than we've ever seen it. And a year ago, it was as cold as it gets. And it's true. It's true. We have the hottest country in the world, and the whole world is talking about it. And that's an honor for all of us. I cannot wait to see the glory that is still ahead, however, for the west point class of 2025. And we're going to help you a lot because we're going to give you a nation as good or better than it ever was. That's what I promise. All the victories that you've had together on these grounds will soon pale in comparison to the momentous deeds that you'll perform on the mission you're accepting today and as a future leader of America's army. And we have that army geared up. We have ordered. You know, we just went $1 trillion military budget, General, do you know that? One trillion. Some people say, could you cut it back? I said, I'm not cutting 10 cents. There's another thing we can cut. We can cut plenty of others, right, Dan? We can cut plenty of other things. And you have a good man. And Dan, too, General, I think you're going to find that it's a very different warfare out there today. Now they've introduced a thing called drone. A drone is a little bit different. It makes you have to go back and learn a whole new form of warfare. And you're going to do it better than anybody else to it won't be anybody close. Generation after generation, the men and women of the army have done whatever it takes to defend our flag. Pouring out their blood onto the fields of battle all over the world. And all over the world you're respected like nobody is respected. Our soldiers have sprinted through storms of bullets, clouds of shrapnel, slogged through miles of dirt and oceans of sand scale towering cliffs of jagged rock. And time and time again, the American soldier has charged into the fires of hell and sent the devil racing in full retreat. No task has ever been too tough for America's army. And now that 250 year legacy of glory and triumph belongs to you. The 1000 newest officers of the greatest fighting force in the history of the world. And that's what you are. And that's what you're being thought of again. You are the first West Point graduates of the golden age of America. This is the golden age, I tell you. Promise. We're in a new age. This is the golden age. And you are going to lead the army to summits of greatness that has never reached before. And you see that, you see what's happening, you see what's going on in the world. Each of you is entering the officer corps at a defining moment in the army's history. For at least two decades, political leaders from both parties have dragged our military into missions it was never meant to be. It wasn't meant to be. People would say why are we doing this? Why are we wasting our time, money and souls? In some case, they sent our warriors on nation building crusades to nations that wanted nothing to do with us. Led by leaders that didn't have a clue in distant lands while abusing our soldiers with absurd ideological experiments here and at home. All of that's ended. You know that. All of it's ended. It's ended. Strongly ended. They're not even allowed to think about it anymore. They subjected the armed forces to all manner of social projects and political causes while leaving our borders undefended and depleting our arsenals to fight other countries wars. We fought for other countries borders, but we didn't fight fight for our own border. But now we do. Like we have never fought before, by the way. But under the Trump administration, those Days are over. We're getting rid of the distractions, and we're focusing our military on its core mission. Crushing America's adversaries, killing America's enemies, and defending our great American friends. 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, but 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 any place. A big part of that job is to be respected again. And you are, as of right now, respected more than any army anywhere in the world. And that's happening. And I can tell you, you are respected like nobody can believe. As president, I am laser focused on our core national interests. My preference will always be to make peace and to seek partnership, even with countries where our differences may be profound. As you know, we're working on a lot of things right now. When I left office four years ago, we had no wars. We. We had no problems. We had nothing but success. We had the most incredible economy, the greatest, single greatest economy for a president in history. I think we're going to beat at this time by a lot, if you want to know the truth. But we had something going on, very special, that if the United States or its allies are ever threatened or attacked, the army will obliterate our opponents with overwhelming strength and devastating force. That's why my administration has begun a colossal buildup of the United States Armed forces. A buildup like we've never had before. Peace through strength. You know the term, I've used it a lot. 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 happening. And I've approved a $1 trillion investment, and that will be again, the largest ever in the history of our country. And we are buying you new airplanes. Brand new, beautiful planes, redesigned planes, brand new planes, totally stealth planes. I hope they're stealth. I don't know. That whole stealth thing. I'm sort of wondering. You mean if we shape a wing. This way they don't see it, but the other way they see it, I'm not so sure, but that's what they tell me. We have the best tanks anywhere in the world. We're going to start shipbuilding again. We're going to start ship. We used to build a ship a day. Now we don't build them anymore. We had A lot of people that didn't know much about getting things built, but that's all I've done in my life, is build. We're going to have the best missiles. We already do. Drones and much, much more. And earlier this week, I think you'll like this, I announced that we are officially building all in America. Made in America, Designed in America. We're the only ones that could do it because we're the only ones doing it. The great technology. We're building the Golden Dome missile defense shield to protect our homeland and to protect West Point from attack. And it will be completed before I leave office. And, you know, you wouldn't think this, but our enemies are very unhappy about it. You've been hearing, you've been reading. Why are they doing that? Why? Well, we're doing it because we want to be around for a long time. That's why we're doing it. We're also restoring the fundamental principle that a central purpose of our military is to protect our own borders from invasion. Our country was invaded for the last four years. And they've allowed people to come into our country that shouldn't be. They shouldn't be here. Criminals walk in, no vetting, no check in, no nothing. Where are they coming from? And they were taking people out of prisons. They were taking gang members. They were taking the mentally insane and allowing them to come in. And we're getting them out of our country. We have no choice. We're getting them out and bringing them back where they came from. Have no choice. And it's not easy. It's not easy, but hopefully the courts will allow us to continue. You know, we had the greatest election victory. This was November 5th, was we won the popular vote by millions of votes. We won all seven swing states. We won everything. We won 2,750 districts against 505, 2,750 against 505. We had a great mandate, and it gives us the right to do what we want to do to make our country great again. And that's what we're going to do. And on day one, I deployed our military to the southern border. And since that day, we've reduced the number of illegal border crossings where there used to be hundreds of thousands of people coming into our country a day. We had nobody come in. In the last week and a half, we were at 99.999%. 99.999. Think of that. That was with the help of our military. We had one person come in. One. You know why? He got very sick. We brought him through to have him brought to a hospital. One person. And for that, please don't hold me responsible. But that's okay. They did the right thing. Gone are the days where defending every nation but our own was the primary thought. We are putting America first. We have to put America first. We have to rebuild and defend our nation. And very shortly, you're going to see a nation better than it's ever been. And you see that with the trade. For years, we've been ripped off by every nation in the world on trade. We've been ripped off at the NATO level. We've been ripped off like no country has ever been ripped off. But they don't rip us off anymore. They're not going to rip us off anymore. And you're seeing it. You have to watch what we're doing in trade. I know it's not your primary thing, but it's quite important in all fairness. But watch. You'll see what's going on. You've been reading about it over the last few days. We're making deals with other nations that were not even. Nobody thought it would be even possible. And the reason is very simple. They respect us again. They're respecting our country again. That's what you want. And everything we do, we are bringing common sense back to America. It's all about common sense. We. We can say we're liberal, we're conservative. The new word is progressive. They don't like using the word liberal anymore. That's why I call them liberal. But whatever you are, you know, most importantly, you have to have common sense, because most of it's general, most of it's about common sense, when you get right down to it. And we have a lot of people with a lot of. A lot of very smart people, but they have to have common sense. And we've liberated our troops from divisive and demeaning political trainings. 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. And we will not have men playing in women's sports, if that's okay. I mean, 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. I don't think so. How crazy is it? Men playing in women's sports. How crazy is it? So ridiculous. So demeaning. So demeaning to women. And it's over. That's over. We've ended it. And promotions and appointments will not be based on politics or identity. They'll be based on merit. We won that case in the Supreme Court of the United States. We're allowed to go back to a system of merit. We're a merit based country again. Today, morale in the armed forces is soaring to the highest levels in many decades after, after years of recruiting shortfalls. We had years and years of recruiting shortfalls. And just last year was the worst of all. The last year of the Biden administration. We couldn't get anybody to join our military. We couldn't get anybody to join our police or firefighters. We couldn't get anybody to join anything. And right now, just less than a year later, we just set a brand new peacetime recruiting record. The most, most people joined. And we are brimming. In fact, be careful. There's somebody going to try and take your job. Be careful. You better be good. We are brimming with confidence and we're brimming with people. We had the most best recruiting month that we've had in memory. Nobody remembers anything like it. And that's all because they have spirit now. They have spirit. They have a spirit for our country. And now everybody wants to be doing what you're doing. Think of that. So it's really a great honor, I will say, and I'm pleased to report that by next week the army is expected to surpass its recruiting targets for the entire year. Something that hasn't happened in 28 years where we've had that. So that's pretty good. And it's nice to know that you're doing something that everybody wants to do. Isn't it really nice? Wasn't I hated to hear that during the campaign I was hearing that, that you couldn't get people to enlist. But now we're getting people. And it's sad because we're telling so many people, I'm sorry, we can't do it. My administration is doing everything possible to forge the most powerful military ever built. But ultimately, the task of keeping America strong and safe in the years ahead is going to belong to you. Among you are the lieutenants, majors, colonels and generals who lead the army for the next 10, 20, 30 and even 40 years. So as commander in chief, let me offer a few words of advice as you begin your army careers. And I thought I'd do this, and I can make this to a civilian audience or to a military audience. It's pretty much the same. And I did this recently at Ohio State and they really liked it. I gave them A little advice as to what I see for what you want to do, and some tips. And first of all, and you've already done it different from civilians. They're making their decision right now. You've already made your decision. I love your decision. You have to do what you love. You have to do what you love. If you don't love it, you'll never be successful at it. And you've done this. And you, really, many of you in the audience, many of you that are graduating, you come from military backgrounds or you love the military. It's what you want to do. It's what you want to talk about. One thing I see about people that love the military. That's all they want to talk about. I'll be out to dinner. And generals, if they love their job, usually the only good ones are the ones that want to talk about it all the time. But if they talk, that's what they want to talk about. I rarely, really, very rarely see somebody who's successful that doesn't love what he or she does. You have to love what you do. In your case, the military is what you chose. And I'll tell you what, you cannot go wrong. You're going to see it, too. You're going to love it more and more with time. You know, I work all the time. That's all I do, is I work, whether it's politically or before that I did. I was a very good businessman, in case you haven't heard. Really good. But I was good because I loved it. I loved it. I learned from my father a little bit. My father was a happy guy, and all he did was work. He'd work Saturdays, Sundays, he'd work all the time. And he was a happy guy. He just loved life. And I learned that. I say, you know, it makes him happy. I've seen other people that never work, and they're not happy. You got to love it. Otherwise you won't be successful. In the army. There are a lot of different paths you can take. So follow your instincts and make sure that you take the path that you love, that you're doing something that you love within your military. You will be happier, and the army will be far stronger for it. Second is to think big. Always think big. If you're going to do something, you might as well think big. Do it big, because it's just as tough. And sometimes it's a lot easier thinking big than doing a small task that's more difficult. One of your greatest graduates, General Eisenhower, used to say, whenever I run into a problem that I can't solve. I always like to make it bigger, to solve it and solve more of it. If you're going to solve a problem, it might as well be a big problem as opposed to a small problem that lots of people can take advantage of and solve so you can achieve something really amazing. Think big. Third, though, you got to do this brain power. You have to have potential. You have to have. But to be really successful, you're always going to have to work hard. An example is a great athlete, Gary Player. Great golfer. He wasn't as big as the other men that were playing against him. Great big, strong guys. Gary was a smaller guy. I don't want to say too small. He's a friend of mine. He gets a little angry at people because he hits the ball just as far. He said, I hit the ball further than them. Why am I small? But he worked very, very hard. He was always doing exercise. He was always. He was well ahead of his time. He never stopped. He won 168 golf tournaments. He won 18 majors, nine regular and nine on the Senior Tour. Eighteen with 168. That's the most tournaments internationally, the most tournaments anybody's ever won. But he made a statement years ago, and I heard it. I heard it. He's the first one. I think I've heard it a couple of times since, but he was the first. He said, it's funny, the harder I work, the luckier I get. And think of that, the harder I work, the luckier I get. And he worked hard, and you're working hard, and the harder you work, the luckier you're going to get. Fourth is. Don't lose your momentum. Momentum is an amazing thing. Keep it going. I tell a story sometimes about a man who was a great, great real estate man. He was a man who was admired for real estate all over the world, actually, but all over the country. He built Levittowns. He started as a man who built one house, then he built two, then he built five, then he built 20, then he built a thousand, then he built 2,000 and 3,000 a year. And he got very big. Very big. He was great at what he did. You see him all over the country still Levittowns, this was a long time ago, but he was the first of the really, really big home builders. And he became very rich, became a very rich man. And then he decided to sell. He was offered a lot of money by a big conglomerate, Gulf and Western, big conglomerate. They didn't do real estate. They didn't know anything about it, but they saw the money he was making, they wanted to take it. A public company, and they gave him a lot of money, tremendous amount of money, more money than he ever thought he'd get. And he sold his company and he had nothing to do. He ended up getting a divorce, found a new wife. Could you say a trophy wife? I guess we can say a trophy wife. It didn't work out too well, but it doesn't. And that doesn't work out too well, I must tell you. A lot of trophy wives doesn't work out. But it made him happy for a little while at least. But he found a new wife, he sold his little boat, and he got a big yacht. He had one of the biggest yachts anywhere in the world. He moved for a time to Monte Carlo, and he led the good life. And time went by and he got bored. And 15 years later, the company that he sold to called him and they said, the housing business is not for us. You have to understand, when Bill Levitt was hot, when he had momentum, he'd go to the job sites every night. He'd pick up every loose nail, he'd pick up every scrap of wood. If there was a bolt or a screw laying on the ground, he'd pick it up and he'd use it the next day. And putting together a house. But now he was spoiled and he was rich. He was really rich. And they called and they said, this isn't for us, this business. We do other things. Would you like to buy it back? We'll sell it back to you cheap. And they did. He bought it. He bought it. He thought he made a great deal and he was all excited. But it was 15 years later. He lost a lot of momentum. Remember the word momentum? And he lost everything. It just didn't work. He lost everything. And I was sitting at a party on Fifth Avenue one night, long time ago. And yet the biggest people in New York, the biggest people in the country, all in that party, and they were all saluting each other, how great they were. They were all telling each other, I'm greater than you. Gets to be. Really gives you a headache sometimes. But they had all these people that. Telling their own stories about how fantastic a cocktail party. And I looked over and I was doing well. I was. I don't know, I was invited to the party, so I had to be doing well. I was very, very young, but I made a name in real estate. And I looked over and at the party, sitting in a corner all by himself. Nobody was talking to him. It was Mr. Levitt. He had just gone bankrupt, lost everything. He'd lost everything. His home, everything. And I went over and talked to him because he was in the real estate business and I loved real estate. And I said, hello, Mr. Levitt, how are you? He said, hello, Donald. It's nice to meet you. He knew me from being in the business. I said, so how's it going? He goes, not well. It's really not going well. As you've probably read, it's been very, very tough period for me, son. I said, so what happened? Anything you can do? He goes, no, there's not a thing I can do. He said, I'll never forget. He said, I've lost my momentum. I just didn't have it. I used to have it, but I lost my momentum. So it's a story I tell. And you have to know when you have the momentum, but sometimes you have to also know when you've lost the momentum. And leaving a field, sometimes leaving what you're doing sometimes is okay, but you got to have momentum. But you have to know if that momentum is gone, you have to know when to say it's time to get out. And it's a very sad story. I remember that story so well, like it was yesterday. Fifth, you have to have the courage to take risks and to do things differently. Eisenhower again was threatened with court martials as a young officer for advocating a new doctrine of tank warfare. Billy Mitchell was thrown out of the army for pioneering the use of air power. They said, what do you mean, air power? Don't be ridiculous. People willing to try and do things differently. It's never going to be easy for them, but they're the ones that are going to really do the important things. They're the ones who are going to make history. So don't be ashamed and don't be afraid. This is a time of incredible change, and we do not need an officer, corps of careerists and yes, men and people that want to keep it going the way it's been because it changes rapidly. Especially what you're doing, because believe it or not, you're in a business and profession where things change as rapidly, like warfare, the type of warfare. Unfortunately, we're getting to see it with Russia and Ukraine, and we're studying it, and it's a very terrible thing to study. But we're seeing the different forms of warfare. We're seeing the drones that are coming down at angles and with speed and with precision. We've never seen anything like it. We've never seen anything like it, and we're learning from it. But your profession changes very rapidly. You've got to keep. You've got to be at the top of it. You've got to be right at the. At the head of the needle. We need patriots with guts and vision and backbone who take personal risks to ensure that America wins every single time we want to win our battles. You know, I defeated ISIS in three weeks. They told me it would take five years. And the general that did it, you know that story, was named Raisin Cain. His name is Dan Cain, but his nickname was Raisin Cain. I said, your name is Raisin Cain. I love that. Is that a nickname? That's what they call me, sir. I love you, General. I think you're the guy I'm looking for. I want to know a guy named Raisin Kainan. He is now the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and he's a highly respected man. And we defeated, think of it, isis. They said. They said, how long in Washington, sir, it will take four years to defeat them, maybe five, and maybe we won't, because they're all over the place. And then I met a man that said we can do it in three weeks. And he did it three weeks. And that's why he's the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff right now. And we did things that nobody thought were possible. We've had great military success. When you have the right leader and you have the right people and we have the right people, you're going to have tremendous success. Success. Sixth, never lose your faith in America and the American people, because they're always going to be there for you. I went through a very tough time with some very radicalized, sick people. And I say I was investigated more than the great late Alphonse Capone. Alphonse Capone was a monster. He was a very hardened criminal. I went through more investigations than Alphonse Capone. And now I'm talking to you as president. Can you believe this? Can you believe it? So you got to fight hard, and you got to never give up. And don't let bad people take you down. You got to let them. You got to take them down. Got a lot of bad people out there, and those people, you have to figure it out. But you also have a lot of great people. Finally hold on to your culture and your traditions, because that's what makes something really great, and that's what's made the army great. The culture and the tradition, whether we're talking about a Battalion, a business, a sports team, or even a nation. History has shown that in many ways, culture is destiny. So do not let anyone destroy the culture of winning. You have to win. Winning is a beautiful thing. Losing. Not for us. Not for us. Not for anybody here. If it was, you wouldn't be here. From the earliest days of our nation, this supreme tradition of American military service has been passed down from soldier to soldier and generation to generation. And it's a beautiful thing to watch. Graduating today is cadet Ricky McMahon, Ricky's great grandfather. Stand up wherever you are, Ricky, because you're going to like this. Ricky's great grandfather served in World War I. His grandfather served in World War II. And his uncle, father and mother all graduated from West Point. Where is Ricky? In 2004, when Ricky was just a little, little tiny boy, who would think of about that? Ricky, a little tiny boy. His dad, Lt. Col. Michael McMahon, made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation in Afghanistan. Today, Lieutenant Colonel McMahon rests not far from here in the West Point cemetery. Last year, two decades after losing his father, Ricky placed a gold chip from his dad's 1985 class ring into a a crucible along 87 other rings were with it of past West Point grads that were melted down to forge those now worn by the class of 2025. Do you all know that? Do you know that what you're wearing? I want one, Ricky. I want one. Each of you will carry Michael's memory with you always as you continue the legacy he gave you and gave you something that would be so proud. He would be so proud. He is proud. She looks down to Ricky and his mom, Jeanette. You embody what this place is all about. And I know Michael, he's up there, he's smiling broadly. So proud. He's so proud of you today, you know that. And he's a man that couldn't be. And he is a man that couldn't be more proud. And I want to just. I just love that story and everybody's ring. They're going to remember you, they're going to remember your family. And most importantly, you're going to remember a great tradition. It's a great tradition of West Point and of winners. Thank you very much. It's great to meet you. Thank you. You can sit down. You want to come up? If you want to come up, come up. Come on up. Come on up here. That's nice. A handsome guy. They're all good looking here. I don't know what's going on. Whole crowd is beautiful. Thank you very much. I'd like to thank my mother, I'd.

Like to thank my family and I'd.

Like to thank G3Go Gophers. These are good looking people, I'll tell you. General, what's going on over here? Look like all a bunch of male models. I can't stand. For two and a half centuries our republic has endured because of heroes like Michael have laid down their lives for America and because young people like all of you have picked up the banner of service and carried forward the flag of freedom. From Lexington to Yorktown, from Gettysburg to Sicily to and from Incheon to Fallujah, America has been won and saved by an unbroken chain of soldiers and patriots who ran to the sound of the guns, leapt into the maw of battle and charged into the crucible of fire to seize the crown of victory. No matter the odds, no matter the cost, no matter the danger. All over the world, our soldiers have made sacred the ground where they shed their blood and showed their valor. From Seminary Ridge to San Juan Hill, Belleau Wood, Omaha Beach, Leyte Gulf and Arden Forest, Chosen Reservoir, all over, and even a place called Hill. And in all of those battles and so many more, some of the best, brightest and bravest have come from right here at the US Military Academy at West Point, one of the great fabled places anywhere in the world. America's army has never failed us. And with leaders like the west point Class of 2025, the army will never fail. We will never, never let you down. And over the last week, I had the honor of speaking to the heads of many countries and they would say two weeks ago, they say the eighth, they said, sir, we're celebrating the victory today of World War II. And I said, wow, that's nice. Then I'd call another one unrelated, sir, we're celebrating the victory of World War II. Then I called up the President of France on something also unrelated. He said, sir, we're celebrating our victory over World War II. I said, Whoa, whoa, what have we. We here, we help them a lot. And I had this Russia. I talked to Putin about ending that terrible war that's going on. And he said, they're having a big victory march. And they did lose, in all fairness, 51 million people, but they were all celebrating. The, the only country that wasn't celebrating was the United States of America. And I said, isn't it amazing? We were the ones that won the war and we were helped. We were helped. In some cases, we had to help them, but we were helped by some of the nations and we Were strongly helped by a couple of them. But every one of them was celebrating. They had Victory Day. They called it Victory Day in Europe. Victory Day all over. And we weren't even thought about. Nobody had a Victory Day. And so I named that special day and another special day from now on as a holiday, but a holiday where we work because we don't have enough days. We're going to be having so many holidays, we're not going to be able to work anymore. But I named it for World War II and a separate day in November, as you know, for World War I. I said, you know, all of these countries that participated in the war are celebrating, but the greatest country of them all and the country that won the war, nobody even talked about. And so we're going to be talking about it, too, from now on, and I think you'll appreciate it. We won the First World War, we won the Second World War. And you know where we won them from? Right here at West Point. West Point won the war. You won two world wars and plenty of other things. But you think of it, we don't want to have a third World War, but we won the First World War, we won the Second World War right here from West Point. And that's something. And we're going to be talking about it. You know, they can talk about it. And in some cases, as you know, they didn't do too much to help. They were ground down, but they were celebrating victory. No, we're going to celebrate victory because we're the ones that won that war. Standing before you today, I know that you will never stop, you will never quit, you will never yield, you will never tire, you will never, ever, ever surrender. Never give up. Remember that. Never give up. That's another little factor I could have added. Never, ever give up. Raise your right hand. I pledge I will never, ever give up. You can never give up. You can never give up. If you do, you're not going to be successful because you'll go through things that will be bad. You're going to have great moments. You're going to have bad moments. You can never give up. Through every challenge and every battle, you'll stand strong, you'll work hard, you'll stay tough, and you will fight, fight, fight and win, win, win. So I want to just congratulate you all. I'm going back now to deal with Russia, to deal with China. What's that all about? That's a niche entered, get you lots of victories. And we're going to keep winning. This country is Going to keep winning. And with you the job is easy. I want to thank you all. Congratulations to the class of 2025. God bless you all incredible people. Thank you very much, everybody.

Ladies and gentlemen, at this time please remain standing for the presentation of the class gift. The class president, Cadet Kathryn Larue will present a panoramic photo of the class of 202025 to the president.

President Trump, on behalf of the class of 2025, I would like to present you with this class photo as a token of appreciation for your inspiring words today. Thank you, sir. Beautiful. Thank you very much. She stole it.

Present on.

Class. Attention.

[Steve Gruber]

Three.

[Unknown]

Cover. Present arms.

Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the departure of the President.

[Steve Bannon]

Okay, the president has over a one hour commencement address. Momentarily we're going to start giving out the diplomas to the. To the cadets thinking that's honoring the president as he exits.

[Steve Gruber]

Arms on cover.

[Unknown]

Please remain standing for the singing of the corps. A cherished West Point song. The corps became a West Point tradition at the baccalaureate service for the class of 1911 and first sung at graduation in 1962.

The COR, the cor. The corner had its salute. We wait for the pack. The core of today we salute you. The core of it of your day we salute. We follow close order behind you where you have pointed the way we salute the long way line of our stretches through the years of century to. And the last one feels to the marrow the grip of your far offhold grip Hands with us now though we see not grip hands with the strength they might our hearts as the long line s and straightens with the throat that your presence imparts Repends the wit me from the shadows or dying to honor the corn and the cor. And the correct.

Take seat. Please be seated.

Last take seats.

Ladies and gentlemen, the dean of the academic board, Brigadier General Shane R. Reeves.

[Steve Gruber]

Class of 2025. Your education has prepared you to be a leader of character sworn to uphold the values embodied in our constitution. So on behalf of the academic board, I present these graduates and recommend each as worthy of the bachelor of science degree. The Secretary of the army will present diplomas to those cadets awarded summa cum laude designation class valedictorian, cadet first captain, class president and the Army Athletic association trophy winners. Will the members of the class of 2025 now come forward to receive their diplomas? Congratulation.

[Unknown]

As.

[Steve Bannon]

Let's. Okay, let's keep the shot right there. As the. As the top graduates come to get their diplomas is Steve Gruber. Steve, can I get your. Your Thoughts on President Trump. I thought it was pretty historic commencement address. Talked about a lot of geopolitical things going on, a lot of issues related to national security. But really talk about the predicate for a new golden age is our young people. Like, you see her graduating at West Point. Your thoughts?

[Unknown]

JOANNA K. Hatmill.

[Steve Bannon]

So don't have no Gruber. Okay, let's get that in a second. We get him up. Do I have Patrick K. O' Donnell? Patrick K. In the studio. Any thoughts on President Trump's prehistoric, prehistoric, very historic speech? Speaker STEVE Let's.

[Steve Gruber]

And he brought up a lot of really key points that, you know, the, the era of CRT is gone and the, the importance of being flexible and how the battlefield is constantly changing and how this new generation is up for the task. You know, he mentioned a couple really, you know, powerful pull, the things that I pulled out of it. Culture is destiny. That really, you know, kind of rang the true, I thought, in the emphasis on winning. And I think that's a really important point that, you know, many, you know, prior administrations hasn't been a focus. And he's brought that back into focus and also the common sense and how a lot of people don't have it. But, you know, many of his policies are based on common sense. And he's bringing that back.

[Steve Bannon]

No, it's. You nailed it. I'm gonna come back and answer some specifics. You have covered as combat historians so many of the battles that President Trump talked about. And you're right, I thought the most powerful thing he says, culture is destiny and we have to reinstill a culture of winning. And that's what he said that West Point has. Steve Gruber, your, your comments and thoughts. No Gruber. Okay, can I get Steve, I'll mention.

[Steve Gruber]

Another thing that the President.

[Unknown]

Okay.

[Steve Bannon]

Yeah, go ahead, Patrick.

[Unknown]

Yeah, go.

[Steve Gruber]

Really powerful. You know, a lot of times presidents sort of sugarcoat things. He was very clear it was about killing the enemy and annihilating our foes in the event, in the, you know, tragic, in the tragic event that we have to go to war. But we would be prepared. And I think that these are, you know, some very, very powerful statements.

[Steve Bannon]

No, absolutely. I think he understands the core mission of readiness in combat and being able to win in combat. What President Trump, I think, is committed to these cadets who later in the day, as we said, they're graduating right now as cadets. You're having, these are the top academic, the top leaders of the corps, some of the top athletes. After this, the entire rest of the 1000 which is pretty amazing given how tough West Point is. I think they started with 1200. To only have a couple hundred dropout or not just drop out, even be pushed back in classes to graduate this many. I think Mose was in the high eight hundreds. Of course, that was during the Iraq and Afghanistan war. Patrick, correct me if I'm wrong, he committed to a culture of winning. Culture is destiny, and we have to get a culture of winning. And he said he would not send combat troops into any other endeavors that we were not in it to win it. And I think that that is a huge, huge, huge psychological change from the, from the forever war mentality. Sir.

[Steve Gruber]

Absolutely, Steve. This is a sea change. This is really important stuff. It's about the understanding of, you know, we're not going to commit our troops to wars that we can't win. And there is going to be a focus on winning in the event, you know, tragic event, if we have to go to war.

[Steve Bannon]

Let's talk about. He mentioned some of the, some of the conflicts, Chosin Reservoir, some of the others that you have covered. He also brought up. And I'd like your comments and observations on this. He said, hey, the First World War, the Second World War, people have around the world commemorate that and celebrate the ending of those wars. And he made the point we had so much to do with the winning of the First World War. We clearly were the. Were the arsenal of democracy and provided so many of the combat troops and the valor in both Europe and the Pacific, really, the Pacific was our war, that we're going to start commemorating that, right Turning Veterans Day now, today. And I say this as a veteran, I think every veteran would gladly turn it into a commemoration of the, of the First World War, which it used to be before it's changed to that. We've got a couple minutes before we take a break. Patrick, give me your thoughts.

[Steve Gruber]

I think, you know, what he's trying to say, in a sense, is that we don't recognize the sacrifice of many of our veterans. You know, it goes back to a quote from Cicero. Poor is a nation that has no heroes, but poor still is a nation that having heroes fails to honor them. And I think that's the case with the United States in many ways. We don't really honor our history and we forget it constantly. So I think that there's a real need to look back at some of these great conflicts, such as the First World War and the Second World War with the United States plays a tremendous role in the success of that war. I mean, you look at, for instance, Russia or the Soviet Union, they have, you know, tens of millions that are dead, but they had never would have been able to sustain their war effort had it not been for the Lend Lease that the United States provided to it in a massive way. You know, we're talking about 50 or 60,000 trucks, tanks, thousands of aircraft, ships, all kinds of things that were just vitally important to that economy. But on the other hand, it is also an allied effort that, you know, won World War II. But I think that, you know, in many cases here in the United States, we don't even really recognize the significance of the role of.

[Steve Bannon]

But the sacrament. Yeah, the sacrifice of North Africa and Sicily, he called out Sicily particularly, which was so brutal and so bloody, I thought was great. The Italian campaign, obviously, D day, the unheralded 8th Air Corps over. So I tell you what, Patrick, hang on one second. We'll take a short commercial break. I have Patrick K. O' Donnell in studio and the great combat historian. Also, Steve Gruber is at West Point at Mikey Stadium. This historic coverage wall to wall on the historic President Trump, his second term, going to address the United States Military Academy and giving, quite frankly, a blockbuster speech today. We're going to return for the graduation of the cadets getting their diplomas. Wall to wall historic, never been done before on national tv. Short commercial break Back in the War in just a moment.

[Patrick K. O'Donnell]

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