President Donald Trump, who marked the day of the fallen in the National Cemetery of Arlington on Monday, went to politics during the comments to pay tribute to those who died in the United States wars.
Trump hit the previous administration after talking about the first soldiers who died in Bunker Hill.
“Those young people could never have known what their sacrifice would mean for us, but we certainly know what we owe them. That value gave us the most free, bigger and noble Republic that has existed to the face of the earth. A republic that I am fixing after some long and difficult four years. That was about four years that we spent,” Trump said, causing some applause of the audience.
“Who would let that happen? People who are going through our borders without control,” he continued, although he did not explicitly mention former President Joe Biden by name. “People who do things that are indescribable and not for today to discuss.”
Even so, Trump continued: “We will do better than we have done as a nation, better than ever. I promise you.”
During a cloudy morning, Trump participated in the traditional ceremony on the crown in the tomb of the unknowns before pronouncing his speech.
“These warriors collected the mantle of duty and service, knowing that living for others meant whenever they could die for others. They did not ask for anything. They gave everything. And we owe everything and more,” Trump said in his comments.
“The greatest monument to its courage is not carved in marble or bronze: it surrounds us, an American nation of 325 million strong, which will soon be greater than what is before,” Trump said. “It will be.”
President Donald Trump and vice president JD Vance Salute in the amphitheater in the tomb of the unknown soldier in the National Cemetery of Arlington in Arlington, Virginia, on the day of the fallen, on May 26, 2025.
Saul Loeb/AFP through Getty Images
Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance received some cheers and shouts when they reached the memorial amphitheater.
Hegseth, in his own comments, repeatedly referred to the men who sacrificed their lives for the nation, but did not refer to the women who have served in the army or died in combat. Vance, meanwhile, said the National Cemetery of Arlington is the “place of eternal rest for the sons and daughters of our nation.”
In the tomb of the unknowns, Trump joined Vance, Hegseth and under the command of the United States Military District of the Major Gen. of Washington, Trevor Bredenkamp. The four men raised their hands greeting.
The president of the Joint Chiefs, General John Daniel Caine, the director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, the veteran Secretary of Affairs Doug Collins and other Trump officials, also attended.
President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth meets the tomb of the unknown soldier, during the ceremonies in commemoration of the holidays of the Fallen Day, in the National Cemetery of Arlington in Arlington, Virginia, May 26, 2025.
Ken Cedeno/Reuters
President Donald Trump puts a crown of flowers in the tomb of the unknown soldier as vice president JD Vance and the Secretary of Defense of the United States, Pete Hegseth, observes in the National Cemetery of Arlington in Arlington, Virginia, on the day of the fallen, May 26, 2025.
Saul Loeb/AFP through Getty Images
The president on Monday had published on his conservative social networks a generic message in letters of every capital that commemorated the holidays.
In a second publication on the social networks of the Fallen Day, Trump focused largely on attacking federal judges and perceived political opponents. It did not contain no mention of US military personnel who lost his life while serving in the Armed Forces.
Trump wished a happy vacation for everyone, including “La Scoria,” said “spent the last four years trying to destroy our country through radical leftist minds.”
The rest of the position criticized the previous administration about border security and hastened the judges who have blocked parts of the Trump immigration agenda.
President Donald Trump attends the 157th observance of the National Memorial Day in the National Cemetery of Arlington, on May 26, 2025, in Arlington, VA.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Trump, in his speech at the Memorial Amphitheater, mentioned the next military parade for Mark on the 250th birthday of the United States. The June 14 celebration coincides with Trump’s 79th birthday.
“We are going to have a great celebration,” Trump said in his comments on Monday, adding that if he had been re -elected in 2020, he would have surprised to be president during this time.
He also promoted other great events that arrived in the United States, including the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games.
“Can you imagine that I missed those four years? Now look what I have. I have everything. It is surprising the way things work. God did that, I believe too,” he said.
Kelsey Walsh of ABC News contributed to this report.
