A new doctrine? Trump lays out vision for US military and global role at West Point address

President Donald Trump delivered a campaign-style commencement address at West Point Military Academy on Saturday, sharply criticising US diversity and inclusion policies, NATO, and taking credit for strengthening the military during his tenure.

Wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, Trump blended his political views with military themes, asserting that he had rebuilt the armed forces “better than ever” and eliminated “social experiments” such as critical race theory education and support programs for transgender soldiers. He also claimed responsibility for increased military recruitment.

Defending his isolationist approach and skepticism toward longstanding alliances, Trump argued that US leaders over the past 20 years had needlessly involved the military in foreign conflicts that wasted resources and lives. He criticised military leadership for being clueless in overseas operations.

Trump concentrated on removing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies intended to boost representation of racial and sexual minorities, including women, in the military ranks. This effort has extended to pulling numerous books on the history of racism from military academy libraries.

Addressing the graduates, Trump said previous administrations had burdened soldiers with “absurd ideological experiments,” pursuing social and political agendas while neglecting border security. “All of that’s ended. You know that,” he declared. “They’re not even allowed to think about it anymore.”

He emphasised that the military’s mission is to “dominate any foe” and “annihilate any threat to America,” not to “host drag shows.”

Trump tapped into widespread public frustration after the prolonged wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, vowing that the U.S. would no longer try to “spread democracy… at the point of a gun.”

His reset also included harsh criticism of US allies in Europe and Asia, whom he accused of cheating America financially, though he claimed they no longer do so.

Throughout the speech, Trump wore his campaign hat and hailed his anticipated November election victory as a “great mandate” granting him the freedom to act as he wishes.

While Army officers are prohibited from political involvement, applause from cadets during the speech was inconsistent. Those invited to speak at the event kept their remarks personal, avoiding any direct mention of the president.

However, Trump’s reshaping of the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has stirred discomfort among some. West Point philosophy professor Graham Parsons resigned this month, accusing the academy of abandoning its principles to meet White House ideological demands and expressing shame.

Parsons criticised new guidelines discouraging discussions of racism or sexism while promoting the narrative of America as an unwavering force for good, calling the policies “brazen demands to indoctrinate, not educate” in a New York Times opinion piece.

With inputs from agencies