USA

‘Can’t throw your pronouns at the enemy’

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a commencement address in the pouring rain at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on Saturday morning, blaming former “stupid and incompetent leaders” for imposing their identity politics on the military establishment.

“The battlefield does not move on a curve, and you cannot throw your pronouns at the enemy,” Hegseth told the students. “War is the greatest test, and our best Americans must pass it.”

The Pentagon chief also condemned “woke and weak leaders” who are trying to turn the military academy into his alma mater, “woke Princeton.”

“They embraced the DEI craze and tried to promote diversity and inclusion efforts,” Hegseth said, referring to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. “They hired professors who advocated anti-American ideologies here in these halls, but not anymore.

“West Point is a different place. It’s private. It’s above politics,” he continued. “Success here is based on merit. What matters is how you perform.”

Hegseth has frequently opposed DEI programs and last year supported President Trump’s executive order expressly banning transgender people from serving in the military.

“You’re not fat, you’re fit. You’re disciplined, you don’t get distracted,” Hegseth told the students.

“Many of you, even in your short time in uniform, have endured what I call the slow decline of the U.S. Army,” he continued. “You’ve seen standards lowered, you’ve seen an obsession with race and gender, you’ve seen discipline watered down, rules weakened and traditions tossed aside in the name of political correctness, statues torn down, paintings placed in the basement. I’m here to tell you that the slow slide here at West Point and throughout the United States Army is over.”

He referenced the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk in his speech to the graduates.

“As Charlie Kirk often said, ‘Remember, this too will always pass,’” Hegseth said. “The good times will pass, and the bad times will pass.”

Hegseth also pledged to “untie” the hands of military service members, saying “lawyers don’t run battalions, commanders do.”

“No matter what, President Trump and I will have your back when tough decisions are made, especially decisions made in split seconds in the heat of battle that air-conditioned offices in Washington, D.C., could never have,” Hegseth said, adding: “Understand, your hands are tied.”

In March, the Minister of Defense announced a “draconian, no-excuses” overhaul of the military’s legal offices. Room was fired Last year, top lawyers for the Army, Navy and Air Force claimed they were “obstructing the orders” of the president.

Democratic lawmakers are alarmed by the weakening of legal safeguards, especially in the wake of the military’s deadly attacks on ships allegedly involved in drug-smuggling operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

A coalition of Democratic lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds urged service members to defy illegal orders in a joint video statement following those boat attacks.

The President followed this warning by saying “VIOLALIZING BEHAVIOR is punishable by death!” He condemned it as follows: One Real Social postand federal prosecutors sought to charge lawmakers with violating a law that prohibits interfering with the loyalty, morale or discipline of the U.S. military.

Democrats included Sens. Elissa Slotkin (Mich.) and Mark Kelly (Ariz.) and Reps. Jason Crow (Germany), Chris Deluzio (Pa.), Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.) and Maggie Goodlander (NH). A grand jury declined to indict the deputies on those charges in February.

The Defense secretary was joined onstage Saturday by Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), Rep. Pat Ryan (D-Y), Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and other top military officials.

President Trump delivered last year’s commencement speech. Previous speakers include former President Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris.

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