In his first official visit to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reassured graduating cadets they are prepared for war — though he did not specifically mention the unpopular U.S. war in Iran — and railed against diversity efforts in the military.
The speech came as a prolonged stalemate between the U.S. and Iran reached a crescendo, with President Donald Trump rearranging his Memorial Day weekend schedule to stay at the White House with signs pointing to the possibility of a resumption of military action.
Hegseth gave an oblique nod to the conflict during his commencement address, noting that the graduates “are stepping into the arena at a time when the stakes could not be higher.”
“We’re sending you to lead, we’re sending you to forge warriors, and we are sending you, perhaps, to war, and you are ready,” he said.
After Hegseth’s speech concluded, Axios reported that Trump told a reporter in a phone call that he’s “50-50” on reaching a deal with Iran or resuming the war.
“Either we reach a good deal or I’ll blow them to a thousand hells,” the reporter quoted Trump as saying, adding that the president said he will meet with senior advisors Saturday and may make a decision by Sunday.
Axios also reported that Trump will hold a conference call with Gulf leaders at 1 p.m. E.T. to discuss the situation with Iran, citing two sources with knowledge of the situation.
As Hegeth spoke, Trump posted on Truth Social a map of the Middle East with Iran painted over with a the American flag. The graphic read: “United States of the Middle East?”
Earlier Saturday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters there’s been “some progress made” on the U.S. demands that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz and that the country not have the capability to develop a nuclear weapons.
“There might be some news a little later today,” Rubio said. “There may not be. I hope there will be, but I’m not sure yet.”
On Friday, Hegseth and Trump reportedly met in the Oval Office to discuss military options for potentially resuming the bombing of Iran, The New York Times reported. The president announced on Friday that he would skip his son Donald Jr.’s wedding celebration in the Bahamas this weekend, citing in a statement “circumstances pertaining to Government, and my love for the United States of America.”
Trump, whose approval ratings have plummeted because of the war he is waging jointly against Iran with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, indicated Iran would be a top priority this weekend.
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“I’m in the midst — I said: ‘You know, this is not good timing for me. I have a thing called Iran and other things,’” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday.
Hegseth dedicated much of his speech on Saturday to denouncing past diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the military.
“Diversity is not our strength,” Hegseth said. “Unity is our strength.”
He condemned what he called “foolish and feckless leaders in the recent past” who he said were “woke and weak leaders trying to make West Point look like woke Princeton, which happens to be my long lost and lost alma mater.”
Hegseth also derided efforts to include transgender people in the military, whom the Trump administration has banned from serving.
“The call is send us — not send he, not send she, not send they/them,” he said.
Later, he added, “you can’t throw your pronouns at the enemy.”
Hegseth’s commencement address comes one year after Trump delivered the commencement speech to West Point graduates, in which he similarly took aim at diversity efforts in the military.
The Defense Secretary also joked on Saturday that Trump would grant “a complete and total pardon” to any cadets who “committed minor infractions or violations of the regulations of the United States Military Academy.”
Julianne McShane is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW who also covers the politics of abortion and reproductive rights. You can send her tips from a non-work device on Signal at jmcshane.19 or follow her on X or Bluesky.