During a panel discussion on MSNBC on Donald Trump's commencement speech to cadets at West Point on Saturday, MSNBC's Alex Witt pointed out that the president broke with tradition by leaving immediately after.
Following the speech, which has become notable for the president discussing the usefulness of "trophy wives," Trump was escorted off-stage and left without taking part in either saluting or shaking hands with graduating cadets as previous presidents have done –– including President Joe Biden last year.
"Here's something else that some are going to call inappropriate," the MSNBC host addressed to former Barrack Obama HUD Secretary Julián Castro. "Because Trump skipped the tradition of past presidents who shake the hand of each graduate as they receive their diploma. In fact, last year, President Biden stood for more than an hour and returned the salute of over 1000 West Point graduates."
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She added, "In contrast, Trump left yesterday before diplomas were even handed out," before pointing out the Vice President J.D. Vance spoke at the U.S Naval Academy and did stick around to greet each graduate.
"What are the optics here?" the MSNBC host pressed her guest.
"Well, I mean, I think what you can say about Trump is that he's full of himself," Castro replied. "He's self-absorbed, doesn't really care about the graduates that he's addressing, speaks in platitudes and, you know, says all of the right words in a speech to congratulate them but doesn't really care.
"That's why he's disrespecting them by wearing a MAGA hat, not shaking their hands, not taking the time," he continued. "I mean, you know, if you're a parent, they're in the audience and you're watching and this is the day that you've been looking forward to. And your son or daughter, look what they're accomplishing –– you have to find this so disrespectful."
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