Hegseth praises West Point cadets as ‘not an army of woke’ in commencement speech

Published May 23, 2026 12:16pm ET



War Secretary Pete Hegseth praised West Point cadets for being “not an army of woke” as he delivered the commencement speech to graduates of the U.S. Military Academy on Saturday.

In his first visit to the academy as a Trump administration official, Hegseth lambasted the prior administration’s preoccupation with diversity rather than military readiness.

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.