Trump: US Army not for imposing democracy or culture abroad
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At West Point, Trump says US Army’s mission is not to impose democracy or cultural change but to defend America and suppress threats.
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President Donald Trump, left, departs with U.S. Military Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Steven W. Gilland after speaking to United States Military Academy graduating cadets during commencement ceremonies in West Point, N.Y., Saturday, May 24, 2025 (AP)
Speaking at a ceremony at the West Point Military Academy on May 24, US President Donald Trump emphasized that the role of the US Army is not to enforce democracy abroad or engage in cultural experimentation. The event was streamed live on the White House website.
"The US Army is not a tool for conducting a 'drag show' to transform foreign cultures or impose democracy at gunpoint. Its mission is to protect America's interests by suppressing any risks," Trump stated.
'No drag shows, no forced democracy'
In his remarks, Trump dismissed the idea of using the US military to reshape other nations' societies. His comments appeared to criticize recent cultural and ideological debates within US defense and foreign policy circles.
By rejecting both the militarization of democracy promotion and symbolic cultural initiatives, Trump reiterated a vision of the military focused squarely on national security and strength, not social engineering.
Emphasis on border defense, national security
The American president underscored what he called the Army’s primary task: protecting the homeland.
"The main task of the country’s armed forces is to protect its own borders from invasion," Trump said, stressing a shift away from expansive foreign missions and toward robust national defense.
The speech comes amid ongoing debates over the military’s role in global interventions and domestic political polarization surrounding defense policy.
US may move 4,500 troops from South Korea
A report by the Wall Street Journal noted that the United States is considering withdrawing thousands of its troops from South Korea, according to defense officials familiar with the discussions.
The Department of Defense is developing a plan to pull out approximately 4,500 US troops stationed in South Korea and redeploy them elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific region, with potential relocation sites including Guam, according to defense officials and a source familiar with the matter.
The proposed troop withdrawal is part of an informal policy review examining Washington's stance toward the DPRK, and two officials confirmed to the newspaper that preparations are underway to present the plan for consideration by US President Donald Trump.
Similarly, the Pentagon confirmed in April plans to significantly reduce the US occupation forces in Syria, lowering troop levels to fewer than 1,000 in the coming months.
Read more: Trump signs executive orders to accelerate US nuclear energy expansion
