Skip next section Trump to speak to West Point graduates
05/24/2025May 24, 2025
Trump to speak to West Point graduates
President is set to speak to the graduating class from the United States Military Academy, commonly known as West Point, in what will be his first military commencement address of his second term in office.
The military academy educates cadets to become commissioned officers in the US Army. About 1,000 graduate each year.
Trump gave the commencement address at West Point in 2020, among other things urging the graduating cadets to “never forget” the soldiers who fought a war over slavery.
He also acknowledged the academy’s long history and paid tribute to some of its most famous graduates, who included Douglas MacArthur, a top commander during World War II and the Korean War, and former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
https://p.dw.com/p/4uqv2
Skip next section Hegseth orders escorts for reporters at Pentagon
05/24/2025May 24, 2025
Hegseth orders escorts for reporters at Pentagon
US Defense Secretary on Friday issued new regulations under which journalists will be required to have official escorts if they wish to access much of the building.
Under the new rules, accredited reporters will not be allowed into most of the Department of Defense headquarters without official approval and a government escort.
Members of the Pentagon press corps are also soon to be issued with new credentials that, according to the order, will identify them more prominently as press representatives.
“While the Department remains committed to transparency, the Department is equally obligated to protect CSNI (classified intelligence) and sensitive information — the unauthorized disclosure of which could put the lives of US Service members in danger,” Hegseth said in a memorandum.
The new restrictions follow that caused considerable embarrassment to the administration.
Under previous US administrations, the press had had easy access to non-secured and unclassified swaths of the building.
The Pentagon Press Association criticized the move by Hegseth, characterizing it as an attack on press freedom.
“There is no way to sugarcoat it. Today’s memo by Secretary Hegseth appears to be a direct attack on the freedom of the press and America’s right to know what its military is doing,” it said in a statement.
https://p.dw.com/p/4uqur
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage05/24/2025May 24, 2025
Welcome to our coverage
New rules imposed on journalists reporting from the Pentagon have drawn criticism that the Trump administration is intent on repressing in the US.
The move by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth comes a day after as President moves to reduce the influence and scope of what was once a powerful body.
Trump is also to hold his first commencement address of his current term before graduates of the West Point military academy.
Read this blog to keep abreast of these and other stories from the .
https://p.dw.com/p/4uqtN
The post US updates: Hegseth restricts Pentagon reporting appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
