President Donald Trump marks the day of the fallen in the National Cemetery of Arlington on Monday.
During a cloudy morning, Trump participated in the traditional ceremony on the crown in the tomb of the unknowns and is now delivering comments in the memorial amphitheater.
“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, according to the extracts published by the White House.
“The biggest monument to its courage is not carved in marble or bronze: it surrounds us, an American nation of 300 million strong, which will soon be bigger than ever,” Trump will say.
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 applause when they arrived at 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.
Kelsey Walsh of ABC News contributed to this report.
