President Donald Trump recently gave a speech at the graduation ceremony of West Point Military Academy, but the way he acted before, during, and after the event left many people feeling upset and disappointed.
His speech lasted almost an hour. At the beginning, he praised the cadets for their hard work and academic achievements. But soon after, he started talking about random topics, including “trophy wives,” which didn’t seem to fit the event. The audience stayed quiet, and many people found his comments strange and uncomfortable. Some said it felt like he was trying to entertain a political crowd instead of honoring military students on one of the most important days of their lives.
People were also surprised by what he wore. Instead of dressing formally for the occasion, Trump showed up in a bright pink tie and his famous red “Make America Great Again” hat. For many, this was not appropriate for a serious and respectful military ceremony. At West Point, graduates are trained to be disciplined, professional, and focused on serving the country. So when the president of the United States shows up looking more like he’s at a rally than at a military event, people notice.
After his speech ended, Trump didn’t leave the stage in a smooth or confident way. He looked confused and unsure about where to go next. A military officer had to step in and guide him across the stage. That moment was caught on video and quickly spread online. People began joking about it. One person posted, “OK, grandpa, let’s get you to bed,” suggesting Trump looked tired and out of it. Another said, “Is he well?” pointing out that he didn’t seem sharp or alert. A third person mentioned how awkward the officer looked while leading Trump away, as if even the people helping him didn’t know how to react.
But the part that angered people the most was how Trump left the event. He didn’t take a moment to shake hands with any of the graduating cadets. He didn’t return their salutes. He simply walked off the stage and left. Many people thought this was a big sign of disrespect, especially considering that these cadets had spent years training and were officially becoming officers in the U.S. Army.
One person online pointed out how Trump has, in the past, been quick to salute and show respect to generals from other countries, like Saudi Arabia. But here, at one of the most respected military schools in the world, he didn’t even acknowledge the American cadets. Another person commented, “Those graduates were probably so happy when that clown walked off the stage.”
Trump often says he supports the military, but some of his decisions and behavior tell a different story. For example, earlier this year, he removed General C.Q. Brown, who was the highest-ranking officer in the U.S. military, along with five other top generals and admirals. Many saw this as a major shake-up and felt it was part of a larger plan to take control over parts of the military that didn’t fully support him.
West Point has a mission to train future leaders who stay out of politics and focus only on protecting the Constitution and serving the country. That’s why so many people were upset. To them, it seemed like Trump treated the whole ceremony as if it were another one of his political campaign events. Instead of showing deep respect for the graduates and their commitment to the country, he made it about himself—and that left a bad impression on many.
