President Donald Trump spoke before this year's U.S. Military Academy graduates as their commencement speaker on Saturday amid the administration's crackdown on diversity initiatives and removal of key military leaders. Trump addressed the crowd while wearing a red "Make America Great Again" hat and brought a few graduates on the stage as he praised their achievements. The president and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have called for major changes to military academies since assuming office as part of the administration's rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and these changes took center stage in Trump's speech. In February, shortly after Hegseth was confirmed by the Senate, West Pointdisbanded several student clubs, including the National Society of Black Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, the Latin Cultural Club and the Native American Heritage Forum. MORE: West Point disbands student clubs related to gender and race The changes were made "in accordance with recent Presidential Executive Orders, Department of Defense guidance, and the Department of theArmyguidance," according to a memo obtained by ABC News. Also in February, Trump, who avoided being drafted during the Vietnam War due to what he claimed were bone spurs, dismissed the boards of visitors of military academies, claiming without evidence that the schools were "infiltrated by Woke Leftist Ideologues." This winter, 381 books, many of which were written by Black authors or discussed the history of racism,were removedfrom U.S. Naval Academy libraries because of an order issued in a Pentagon memo. The memo mandated that military services were to submit and remove book titles from the libraries of their military educational institutions that touch on diversity, race and gender issues using the Pentagon's specific search terms. All but 20 of the books that were initially removedwere returnedthis week, according to the school. Former West Point teachers and other military members have criticized Trump and Hegseth for the orders, contending that such programs did not inhibit the values, training and education of the academies. MORE: Navy reverses course on DEI book ban after Pentagon review "These were brazen demands to indoctrinate, not educate," Graham Parsons, a West Point professorwrotein a May 8 guest essay in the New York Times. "Whatever you think about various controversial ideas -- Mr. Hegseth's memo cited critical race theory and gender ideology -- students should engage with them and debate their merits rather than be told they are too dangerous even to be contemplated," he added. MORE: Military academies criticized for removing DEI-related books from libraries Two protests are planned during the ceremony, one outside West Point's gate and another on the Hudson River involving people on boats, according to organizers. The president and his Cabinet have promoted their work with the military and attended several events honoring members, in which they have touted high recruiting numbers. Earlier this month, Trump hosted military mothers at the White House with first lady Melania Trump and second lady Usha Vance to celebrate Mother's Day. Next month, Trump plans to showcase the military and honor service members with a parade throughout Washington, D.C. He will join veterans, active-duty troops, wounded warriors, Gold Star families and people from across the country as part of America's 250th birthday celebration. Organizers intend to commemorate the legacy of the U.S. Army while looking ahead to the next 250 years of American patriotism and the military. Trumplast spoketo the school in 2020, and his appearance drew questions about his health. He was seen slowly walking down a ramp and appeared to have trouble drinking water from a glass while speaking. The president, who has frequently criticized the health of his Democratic opponents, brushed off the criticism in a post on Twitter, now X. "The ramp that I descended after my West Point Commencement speech was very long & steep, had no handrail and, most importantly, was very slippery," he wrote, despite the weather being sunny during the ceremony. ABC News' Michelle Stoddart and Kelsey Walsh contributed to this report. Trump addresses West Point graduates following DEI crackdown at military academiesoriginally appeared onabcnews.go.com
