Representative Jasmine Crockett sparked intense political debate on May 25, 2025, when she delivered scathing criticism of President Donald Trump’s West Point commencement address during her appearance on MSNBC’s “Alex Witt Reports.”
The Texas Democrat’s inflammatory remarks, which suggested Trump belonged in an “insane asylum,” marked the latest escalation in the ongoing verbal sparring between the two political figures.
Crockett responded to clips from Trump’s May 24, 2025 speech to the 1,002 graduating cadets of the West Point Class of 2025 in New York. During his address, Trump had veered into discussions about “trophy wives,” transgender women in sports, and the numerous criminal investigations he faced during his first presidency. “He literally sounds like someone who has broken out of the insane asylum,” Crockett declared while reacting to the footage.
The Democratic lawmaker expanded her critique beyond the singular quote, arguing that Trump’s performance demonstrated fundamental unfitness for the role of commander in chief. Crockett indicated that the West Point graduates did not expect their commander in chief to address them with discussions about trophy wives or his legal troubles. She characterized the speech as a reminder that Trump lacks qualification to potentially command troops in warfare, describing his performance as confidence-shattering.
Crockett’s comments extended to medication recommendations, suggesting Trump needed ADHD medicine due to his scattered presentation style. She emphasized that the military graduates, troops, country, and world all deserved better leadership than what Trump demonstrated during the commencement ceremony.
The congresswoman called for Republican intervention regarding Trump’s mental capacity. Crockett argued that Republicans should begin questioning Trump’s mental acuity and whether he possesses the mental equipment necessary to serve effectively. She noted that while Trump’s criminal background already disqualified him from service in her view, his West Point performance represented additional grounds for concern.
Trump’s West Point speech on May 24, 2025, had indeed drawn attention for its political content mixed with traditional commencement themes. The president wore a red “Make America Great Again” hat during the ceremony and interwove his political ideology with remarks about military success. He took credit for rebuilding the military and eliminating what he termed “social experiments” like critical race theory and transgender military policies.
Trump used the speech to criticize past political leaders for leading soldiers into “nation-building crusades to nations that wanted nothing to do with us.” The president also announced a $1 trillion military buildup, including new stealth aircraft, tanks, and a missile defense shield.
During the same MSNBC appearance, Crockett revealed her political ambitions for the 2026 midterm elections. She expressed confidence that Democrats would regain control of the House of Representatives and outlined her intentions to pursue investigations into Trump and his family if elevated to leadership of the House Oversight Committee. The position became available following Representative Gerry Connolly’s announcement that his esophageal cancer had returned and his decision to step down from the committee leadership role.
Crockett detailed potential investigation targets, including alleged violations of the Emoluments Clause related to a $400 million plane from Qatar and various business deals. She referenced Trump family business ventures, cryptocurrency activities, and real estate projects as areas warranting congressional scrutiny. The representative drew comparisons to Republican investigations of Hunter Biden, arguing that Trump family financial activities deserved similar examination.
The West Point visit occurred against the backdrop of significant changes Trump had implemented at the military academy. Since reclaiming the White House, Trump had directed the abolishment of student affinity clubs for women and minorities, instructed faculty to remove terms such as “feminist” and “systemic racism” from syllabi, and eliminated diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
Several Fox News reports highlighted the ongoing verbal feuds between Crockett and Trump. The network documented previous instances where Crockett had labeled Trump a “buffoon” and used profanity to describe him on social media platforms. Trump had previously responded by calling Crockett “low IQ” and mocking the possibility of her representing the future of the Democratic Party.
Crockett’s May 25 appearance also included criticism of Trump’s hiring practices, particularly his recruitment of numerous Fox News personalities for administration positions. She characterized these appointments as evidence of Trump treating governance like entertainment programming rather than serious public service. The representative suggested that the administration prioritized show business over substantive policy implementation.
The timing of Crockett’s remarks coincided with broader Democratic strategy discussions for the 2026 midterm elections. Multiple political observers noted that Democrats view potential oversight authority as a key motivation for regaining congressional control. Crockett’s explicit discussion of investigation plans represented an unusually candid preview of Democratic intentions.
Military observers expressed concern about the increasingly political nature of service academy commencement addresses. MSNBC featured commentary from former West Point professor Graham Parsons, who had resigned after criticizing Trump’s impact on the academy. Parsons described experiencing “whiplash” from the rapid policy changes implemented under Trump’s directives.
The controversy highlighted ongoing tensions between Trump’s approach to military leadership and Democratic opposition strategies. CBS News reported that Trump’s speech emphasized his administration’s focus on crushing adversaries and defending American interests, while critics argued his rhetoric undermined traditional military professionalism.
Crockett’s remarks generated immediate reactions across social media platforms and conservative news outlets. Video footage shows Crockett appearing to shimmy in her seat while discussing potential Democratic investigations, suggesting enthusiasm for the prospect of renewed oversight activities.
The incident underscored the deep partisan divisions that continue to characterize American politics during Trump’s second presidency. Crockett’s willingness to use inflammatory language while discussing serious policy matters reflected the broader deterioration of political discourse that has accompanied Trump’s return to office.
