Donald Trump can talk for hours at the end, but his being on point and staying on topic is an entirely different thing.
President Trump’s recent commencement address at the United States Military Academy at West Point is another example of his incoherent word salad. This speech has stirred widespread backlash and also reignited concerns about his mental health. He does not have focus, rhetoric, or appropriate behavior for any high-scale event.
Donald Trump wore a red “Make America Great Again” hat during the solemn military graduation. It was an extremely formal occasion and wearing campaign merchandise at such an event was not only against the protocol but also in bad taste. So was his comment about trophy
wives.
Trump wore this hat to West Points’ graduation ceremony. Do you think it’s not only inappropriate, but it clearly shows that Trump is an ignorant old man who has no idea about decorum? pic.twitter.com/cZ6PpnVFno
— Damaan, AKA “Philly’s Finest”! (@Damaan4u33) May 25, 2025
Donald Trump was like an old professor in a lecture hall who jumped from topic to topic and indulged in his own stories. Rather than delivering a speech centered on the graduating cadets’ service, sacrifice, and dedication, Trump launched into personal stories. Many people on both sides of the aisle found his commentary irrelevant and inappropriate.
BuzzFeed News reported that the speech felt more like a campaign rally than a tribute to military graduates. Critics also pointed out that the President used the moment to talk about himself rather than honoring the students who will serve the nation.
Trump’s political rally speech to West Point cadets was a slurring rambling disaster.
He praised foreign dictators.
Compared himself to Capone.
Spoke of spreading democracy at gun point.
Bitched about trophy wives.
And confirmed he has no clue what stealth means. pic.twitter.com/vvgzupuyq9
— Marlene Robertson🇨🇦 (@marlene4719) May 24, 2025
The whole commencement speech could be made into a series of memes. A particular clip from the speech quickly gained traction on social media. In this clip, Donald Trump recalled real estate developer William Levitt and shifted into an offhand comment about “trophy wives.” This clip has garnered over 6.5 million views.
In the viral segment, Trump left many viewers stunned by his rambling. His apparent lack of awareness of the occasion made him feel really uncomfortable and made everyone question how he interacted with other world leaders.
Since the White House is scrubbing senile grandpa Trump’s gibberish, here’s a few highlights from his speech to West Point cadets this morning. Enjoy. pic.twitter.com/NP8H0P7c9M
— Marlene Robertson🇨🇦 (@marlene4719) May 24, 2025
Critics have voiced deep concern about Trump’s coherence and focus. There have been suggestions that these moments reflected a decline in his mental sharpness.
Observers have also pointed out the contrast of Trump’s speech with the cadets’ achievements.
After four years of rigorous training and academic excellence, graduates and their families expected a message of inspiration and leadership. However, what they received were digressions into real estate and personal musings.
Social media was abuzz with comments on his speech, too. “So disrespectful, lazy, and inappropriate,” one Twitter user posted. Many noted that such ramblings reduced the gravitas of such occasions to be on par with comedy shows.
So disrespectful, lazy, and inappropriate. Preparing and delivering a speech is the bare minimum for a commencement and he couldn’t even do that. https://t.co/oap2t0nd1C
— William Gill🌻 (@WilliamRGill) May 24, 2025
The backlash online was swift and intense. Social media users, political analysts, and even some former military officials voiced their disappointment. Everyone argued that the moment called for dignity, reflection, and respect, which was clearly missing from the podium. Comment threads overflowed with disapproval. People were again left questioning whether Trump had taken the event seriously at all.
People were expecting this occasion to unify the nation. However, many were disappointed by the missed opportunity by the President. The occasion that was meant to uplift the coming generation of military leaders was marked by inherent ramblings of a political leader who wouldn’t stop talking about himself.
President Biden honored tradition by shaking the hand of every West Point graduate after his commencement speech in 2024.
Donald Trump, on the other hand. couldn’t be bothered. He left early without shaking a single cadet’s hand. Utterly disgraceful. pic.twitter.com/aOj5QuZtML
— Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) May 24, 2025
The controversy has fueled ongoing debates about the standards of presidential conduct and public communication. Critics argue that Trump’s off-script comments reflect a troubling shift in how modern presidents use ceremonial platforms.
For many Americans, the episode at West Point wasn’t just awkward. It was a reflection of deeper concerns about leadership, respect, and the future tone of politics.
