WEST POINT, N.Y. (NEWS10) — President Donald Trump returned to West Point U.S. Military Academy on Saturday to deliver the class of 2025 commencement speech. It marks his first military commencement address since returning to office.

The ceremony, which kicked off at about 9:30 a.m., was held at the academy’s Michie Stadium. U.S. Representatives Steve Womack of Arkansas and Pat Ryan of New York also attended the commencement.

This year’s West Point graduating class was made of 1,002 cadets — 750 men and 252 women — from all 50 states. 64 graduates hailed from New York State.

As of Saturday, 131 women will be commissioned into the combat arms branches of the U.S. Army. 180 graduates will be fulfilling a service to the regular army in a branch or station of their choice.

It is the second time that Trump has given a commencement speech at West Point. The president also delivered an address in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this year’s delivery, Trump praised this year’s graduating class of the U.S. Military Academy. He lauded the students’ efforts and recognized individual achievements, including this year’s 26 Star Wreath award recipients, four Rhodes Scholarship recipients and the first two women in West Point history to complete the Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification Course.

“You are winners, every single one of you,” Trump said to the class. “You are going to lead the army to summits of greatness it has never reached before.”

Trump also took the opportunity to praise his overhaul of the military. Since coming into office, the Trump administration, which has stated that the military had gone “woke,” has removed top military leaders, issued an executive order to remove transgender service members and expanded military use in handling immigration.

“You will become officers of the greatest and most powerful army the world has ever known — and I know because I rebuilt that army and I rebuilt the military,” Trump said. “We rebuilt it like nobody has ever rebuilt it before in my first term.”

Additionally, the president offered a look into his future militaristic plans, which he referred to as “a colossal buildup of the United States armed forces.” The plan, he said, includes a proposed $1 trillion defense investment; weapon, ship and aircraft development as well as the construction of the “Golden Dome.” He claims that the missile defense program, which is still in the planning stages, will be completed before he leaves office.

“We’re getting rid of the distractions and focusing our military on its core mission: crushing America’s adversaries, killing America’s enemies and defending our great American flag like it has never been defended before,” Trump said.

President Trump, who also discussed trade, immigration and transgender athletes throughout his speech, rounded out his delivery by encouraging the graduates to work hard, never give up and think big. The academy gifted him with a class photo.

“Through every challenge and every battle, you’ll stand strong, you’ll work hard, you’ll stay tough, and you’ll fight, fight, fight and win, win, win,” Trump said. “This country is going to keep winning and, with you, the job is easy.”

Earlier in May, Trump also delivered a commencement speech at the University of Alabama. Vice President JD Vance gave a speech at the U.S. Naval Academy commencement on Friday.

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