Trump pardons West Point grads in fiery commencement address laced with defiance and pride

The Daily Express ^ | May 24, 2025 | Brigid Brown

[where's_the_Outrage?]

Donald Trump addressed the graduates of West Point on Saturday during their commencement, giving credit where due, saying, the experience at West Point had been "anything but easy" and he also gave out pardons for cadets with minor offences.

Civilian @cherylinperil gave Trump a shoutout over on X, where she wrote in a post: "President Donald Trump giving commencement address to one thousand officers joining the best military, outfitted by President Donald Trump. He also bestowed customary pardon to all West Point Cadets!"

As Trump walked to the podium, wearing a black suit, white shirt and purple tie, the crowd quietly watched in anticipation and then broke out into cheers.

The US President started off the speech by saying: "Well, I want to thank you very much. This is a beautiful place, I have 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."

"I just want to say, hello cadets, and on behalf of our entire nation, let me say, congratulations to the West Point class of 2025, you are winners, every single one of you, thank you."......

But before the speech came to an end, Trump addressed seven cadets who had "completed 100 hours of marching" for disclipnary reasons, regarding their infractions.

He said: "In keeping with tradition, I hereby pardon all cadets on restriction for minor conduct offenses, effective immediately."

[where's_the_Outrage?]

I was in ADAOBC Class 7-77, the class after West Point. We were sitting in a large classroom to take a test, but just before they started to hand out the tests an instructor said we need to move half of you to another classroom.

A voice from room called out "What happened, you remembered we have 6 West Pointers?" 77 was the year of the USMA cheating scandal.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

President Trump’s speech is on X and worth watching.

[Kleon]

He should ditch the purple tie. It looks very fruity, and not the sort of masculine style he typically wears.

[Cold Heart]

It wasn’t purple, it was red and blue interwoven as a message of unity. It just looked purple at a distance.

[Kleon]

A man should only wear a solid color tie. That’s what I always say.

[lee martell]

I would bet there is probably some significance to those colors of red and blue, thus Trump made an effort to incorporate them both.
I don’t know enough about West Point’s history or customs to pin it down.

[Night Hides Not]

I went through ADAOBC starting in 7/76. They had to break up our flag football team, lol, we had several Marines who played for Navy.

Good times, went to Benning upon completion for Jump School.

[chrisinoc]

Interesting that the writer did not mention the MAGA cap, nor that President Trump mentioned Ohio State graduation ceremony when it should have been Alabama.

[jacknhoo]

That’s what you get out of this story, the color of the tie he wore?

[maro]

Pfft.

[Jacquerie]

USMA class of 1977.

Beaten by my USNA class of 1977 in football four times.

Go Navy beat Army!

[madison10]

I see Leftists complaining that President Trump shook no hands and that the speech was narcissistic and rambling. Are those actions true? No, I obviously dud not hear or see the speech.