Trump wades into politics during Memorial Day speech
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President Trump is joined by Vice President Vance (left) and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on May 26. Photo: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
President Trump's Memorial Day remarks Monday at times offered a traditional, somber tone — but in other moments, the speech strayed into attacks against his predecessor and personal boasts.
The big picture: After starting the day with a string of political jabs in a Memorial Day message on Truth Social, the president honored Gold Star families and fallen soldiers during his remarks at Arlington National Cemetery, as past presidents did.
Yes, but: Trump, whose holiday rhetoric has often deviated from his predecessors, occasionally slipped into his campaign-trail style during the remarks.
- "That was a hard four years we went through," Trump said. "Who would let that happen? People pouring through our borders, unchecked, people doing things that are indescribable and not for today to discuss."
- The nation, he said, is "doing so very well ... considering the circumstances" and vowed the U.S. "will do better than we've ever done as a nation."
Context: Trump's Memorial Day speech and laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier mark annual and historically solemn presidential traditions.
- But Trump struck a harsh tone on social media earlier in the day, returning to his habit of using holiday messages to take aim at his political rivals.
Zoom out: In another moment of juxtaposing tones during the speech, Trump spoke of the "infinite grace we have received from all who laid down their lives for America over the past 250 years" — before somewhat abruptly turning to the celebration of America's 250th anniversary and the upcoming World Cup and Olympics.
- "We're going to have a big, big celebration, as you know, 250 years," he said. "In some ways, I'm glad I missed that second term, where it was, because I wouldn't be your president."
- Trump continued, "In addition, we have the World Cup and we have the Olympics. Can you imagine? I missed that four years, and now look what I have. I have everything."
- "Amazing the way things work out. God did that," he said.
Zoom in: He ended the speech by honoring the "incredible legacy" of fallen service members, saying, "We salute them in their eternal and everlasting glory, and we continue our relentless pursuit of America's destiny, as we make our nation stronger, prouder, freer and greater than ever before."
Flashback: Former President Biden, in his final Memorial Day address as president last year, applauded the resiliency of American democracy, saying, "Our democracy is more than just a system of government, it's the very soul of America."
- He also reflected on bipartisan legislation passed under his term to support service members and veterans.
- Biden praised the fallen as having been "bound by a common commitment — not to a place, not to a person, not to a president, but to an idea…the idea of the United States of America."
Go deeper: The meaning behind the Memorial Day federal holiday
