Pete Hegseth gives bizarre speech to West Point graduates - BERITAJA
By: Albert Michael - Tuesday, 26 May 2026 00:45:04 • 5 min read
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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth made headlines aft delivering a bizarre commencement reside to the West Point graduating people during his first charismatic sojourn to the U.S. Military Academy.
The address, which took spot astatine Michie Stadium, stood retired not only for its connection but for its tone.
Hegseth blasted the erstwhile management for prioritizing diverseness initiatives complete combat readiness. “We must train precisely for illustration we conflict and that intends real, applicable warfighting skills. It intends lethality,” he told cadets. “Let maine beryllium perfectly clear: you are not an service of 1 and you are surely not an service of woke. You are an American army, an service of warriors.”
One of the speech’s about wide shared moments came erstwhile Hegseth tied gender personality debates to battlefield performance. “The battlefield does not people connected a curve, and you can’t propulsion your pronouns astatine the enemy,” he told graduates. “Combat is the eventual test, and our champion Americans must ace it.”
He besides mocked what he called “woke and anemic leaders” for attempting to move West Point into “woke Princeton,” referencing his alma mater.
Hegseth declared, “Diversity is not our strength, unity is.”
Targeting DEI and anti-American professors
Pete Hegseth accused erstwhile West Point leaders of lowering standards. ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGAHegseth devoted a ample conception of the reside to attacking DEI programs.
“They embraced the DEI craze and tried to present diverseness and inclusion studies,” he said. “They hired professors who advocated for anti-American ideologies correct present successful these halls, but nary more.”
He framed West Point arsenic insulated from the governmental drift he claimed had dispersed done different American institutions.
“West Point is group apart. It’s special. It’s supra politics,” he said. “Success present is based connected merit. It’s really you execute that matters.”
Hegseth besides accused erstwhile activity of weakening subject traditions and discipline.
“You’ve seen standards lowered, you’ve seen an obsession pinch title and gender, you’ve seen the watering down of discipline, codes weakened and traditions tossed speech successful the sanction of governmental correctness, statues taken down, paintings placed successful the basement,” he told cadets. “I’m present to show you the slow descent present astatine West Point and crossed the United States Army is over.”
Invoking Charlie Kirk from beyond the grave
Pete Hegseth quoted Charlie Kirk during his West Point speech. Ron Sachs – CNP / MEGAAnother notable infinitesimal came erstwhile Hegseth referenced blimpish activistic and Turning Point USA laminitis Charlie Kirk.
“Last and about importantly, activity God and cognize that we are not him. It’s humbling, it’s besides liberating. As Charlie Kirk often said, retrieve always, this excessively shall pass. The bully times will pass, the bad times will pass. You’re ne'er arsenic bully arsenic you deliberation you are, nor are you arsenic bad arsenic you deliberation you are. Seek God successful each circumstance.”
The reference drew attraction because Kirk’s remarks, often framed arsenic motivational advice, were delivered to graduates preparing to participate subject work during a play of heightened world instability.
Untying the hands of commanders
Hegseth besides returned to a taxable he has pushed since taking office: reducing ineligible oversight connected battlefield decisions.
“Lawyers don’t tally battalions, commanders do,” he said. “No matter what, President Trump and I will person your backmost erstwhile reliable decisions are made, particularly decisions made successful a divided 2nd successful the power of conflict that air-conditioned offices successful Washington, D.C., will ne'er have.”
He added, “Understand, your hands are untied.”
The comments carried governmental weight. In March, Hegseth announced a awesome overhaul of the military’s ineligible offices, calling it a “ruthless, no-excuses” restructuring. He had antecedently fired the apical lawyers for the Army, Navy and Air Force, accusing them of obstructing statesmanlike orders.
Democratic lawmakers pinch subject and intelligence backgrounds criticized those moves and urged work members to cull forbidden orders aft U.S. strikes connected vessels allegedly tied to supplier trafficking. President Trump responded connected Truth Social by calling the informing “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by Death!” A national expansive assemblage later declined to indict the lawmakers.
Record service recruiting announced from the podium
Pete Hegseth announced the Army deed its 2026 recruiting extremity 4 months early. Aaron Schwartz – Pool via CNP / MEGAAlongside the governmental messaging, Hegseth announced that the Army had reached its 2026 recruiting extremity 4 months up of schedule.
“Recruitments are up crossed the associated force, and I’m pleased to denote that conscionable 2 days ago, the U.S. Army met its 2026 recruiting goals 4 months early,” he said. “A 2nd grounds twelvemonth successful a row. That intends you’re about to train this group correct present and lead 61,500 caller soldiers.”
In 2025, the Army exceeded its recruiting target of 61,000 by bringing successful 62,050 recruits, according to the Pentagon.
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