President Donald Trump delivered the first military commencement address of his second term on Saturday, May 24, highlighting the achievements of multiple cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Among them was Bryson Daily, the Black Knights’ quarterback.
“This year, the Black Knights fought their way into the top 20 nationally and achieved their longest winning streak since 1949, with the help of graduating quarterback Cadet Bryson Daily, or as you call him, Captain America,” Trump said, according to CNN. “We’ve got to get him up here, right? Come on, Bryson.”
Daily expressed his enthusiasm by saying, “Go Army football,” and shook Trump’s hand before giving the president a salute.
Trump praised the more than 1,000 graduates and declared the U.S. military the greatest fighting force in history. “We’re eliminating distractions and focusing our military on its core mission: crushing America’s adversaries, defeating our enemies and defending our great American flag like never before,” he said.
He criticized past administrations for introducing what he said were social projects and political causes into the military while neglecting border security and depleting military resources. “They subjected the armed forces to various social experiments and political agendas, leaving our borders unprotected and draining our arsenals to fight other nations’ wars,” Trump stated.
Trump talks Golden Dome
Trump briefly mentioned the plan to build a nationwide, $175 billion anti-missile defense system.
“We’re building the Golden Dome missile defense shield to protect our homeland and to protect West Point from attack, and it will be completed before I leave office,” Trump said.
The project aims to establish three layers of aerial protection across the country, according to military officials.
Continuing a presidential tradition, Trump pardoned several cadets who had faced disciplinary actions. He also urged graduating cadets to keep their faith in America and to take risks.
“This is a time of incredible change, and we do not need an officer corps of careerists and yes men,” Trump said. “We need patriots with guts, vision and backbone.”
He concluded his speech by advising graduates to “never, ever give up.” According to the Associated Press, Trump then mentioned he was leaving to address matters involving Russia and China.
