Trump honors America's fallen heroes in Memorial Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery

President Donald Trump gave a Memorial Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery, where he paid tribute to America’s fallen service members. He pledged to “never forget our debt” to those who served this country in uniform. 

“We certainly know what we owe to them,” the president said during his address, according to the New York Post. “Their valor gave us the freest, greatest, and most noble republic ever to exist on the face of the earth, a republic that I am fixing after a long and hard four years.”

The president took that moment to criticize his predecessor, without naming him. 

“Who would let that happen?” Trump continued. “People pouring through our borders unchecked. People doing things that are indescribable and not for today to discuss. But the republic is now doing so very well.”

Trump, 78, along with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, participated in the wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier.

He also cited the major and historic events that will be taking place during his second term as president, including the soccer World Cup jointly hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico in 2026, the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and America’s 250th birthday, which will be celebrated July 4, 2026. 

“We’re going to have a big, big celebration, as you know, 250 years,” Trump, 78, said. “In some ways, I’m glad I missed that second term [by losing to Biden in 2020] where it was because I wouldn’t be your president. In addition, we have the World Cup, and we have the Olympics.”

“Can you imagine? I missed that in four years, and now look what I have — I have everything,” he added. “God did that.”

Trump also talked about three service members who died in America’s recent conflicts, according to the Post:

• Air Force SMSgt. Elroy Harworth of Erhard, Minn., whose plane was shot down over North Vietnam on May 31, 1966, and whose remains were repatriated and identified 20 years later.
• Army Cpl. Ryan C. McGhee of Fredericksburg, Va., killed on May 13, 2009, while fighting in Iraq
• Navy CTTC Shannon M. Kent of Pine Plains, NY, killed on Jan. 16, 2019, by an ISIS suicide bomber in Manbij, Syria and was posthumously promoted to chief petty officer.

“These warriors picked up the mantle of duty and service, knowing that to live for others meant always that they might die for others,” Trump said. “They asked nothing. They gave everything. And we owe them everything and much, much more.”

“Thank you for giving America the brightest light in your lives,” Trump told families of the fallen. “It’s what you’ve done. We will never ever forget our fallen heroes, and we will never forget our debt to you.”