Then President Donald Trump speaking on Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery. He succeeded in honoring our fallen soldiers and war heroes while still managing to weave in self-serving humility brags, partisan red meat. The moving tribute from the banks of the Potomac River, just outside Washington, D.C. There, Trump repeated his great replacement theory and anti-immigration rhetoric, called to shift money from Harvard University’s endowment into trade schools, and lamented his presidency.
Speaking onstage at the convention, Trump praised the sacrifices of the United States warfighters. Specifically, he honored the airmen who were lost in a follow-up raid over Vietnam and the army major who died in a suicide bombing in Iraq. With Vice-President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth—both of whom served in Iraq—Trump laid a wreath at the cemetery, adhering to tradition while sharing accounts of battlefield courage.
“These warriors picked up the mantle of duty and service, knowing that to live for others meant always that they might die for others. They asked nothing. They gave everything. And we owe them everything and more.” – Donald Trump
Trump’s comments, though, quickly turned into a rally-type performance, using the forum to brag repeatedly about his former White House. He continued, “A great republic that I am mending after four busy and terrible years. Those were the dark years we suffered through.” He further commented on the significance of national achievements, asserting that “the greatest monument to their courage is not carved in marble or cast in bronze – it’s all around us, an American nation 325 million strong, which will soon be greater than it has ever been before.”
Trump moved on to speak about immigration. Specifically, he lambasted ongoing open border policies, saying that unregulated immigration is a national security risk. “Who would let that happen? People pouring through our borders unchecked. People doing things that are indescribable and not for today to discuss,” he remarked.
Moreover, Trump suggested diverting an additional $3 billion in federal grant money from Harvard University to trade schools across the United States. This pronouncement came as no surprise after predictions from former Harvard President Drew Gilpin Faust. She warned of the continuing threats to Americans’ constitutional freedoms and American democracy.
Trump seemed to suggest he had some role in the unprecedented loss of a second consecutive term. He would have been able to compete in the biggest international tournaments, including the World Cup and the Olympics. He added, echoing the sentiment of many former leaders, “In some ways, I’m glad I missed that consecutive second term. And then we have the World Cup and we have the Olympics. I have everything. Amazing, the way things work out. God did that – I believe that.”
Trump hailed the bravery of all who have worn the military uniform. After making those comments, he was attacked for his past remarks, which some deemed as insulting to members of the military. Yet Pete Hegseth’s remarks shrouded the contributions and sacrifices made by women in our military. This oversight has led to increased scrutiny around the military’s inclusivity in these discussions.