President Trump goes off-script at West Point commencement speech, brings cadets up on stage
News 12's Ben Nandy was at the U.S. Military Academy West Point graduation.
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President Donald Trump seemed to go far off his script Saturday during his commencement speech at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, even ceding the presidential podium a few times to some of the graduates.
He first praised all 1,002 "firsties" who were graduating to the rank of second lieutenant, and then made special mention of cadets who received special honors from the academy.
The president first turned the microphone over the Chris Verdugo, who proved his toughness in some of the physical training required of cadets.
Verdugo broke the international record for an 18 and a half mile march by several minutes, an accomplishment that led Trump to invite Verdugo to the stage to say a few words.
After breaking into a laugh and then gaining composure, Verdugo said "it's been a long five years, but I couldn't have done it without any of these guys," referring to the crowd of cadets.
The president then spent some time on politics and policy.
He spoke about his reelection, past Democratic presidents he says he is now outperforming, immigration, and how the United States is being "ripped off" by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
"[We are] depleting our arsenals to fight other countries' wars," Trump said. "We fought for other countries' borders, but we didn't fight for our own borders. Now we do, like we have never fought before."
The commencement speech hit at a trying time for the academy.
A handful of professors resigned following executive orders that one said "muzzled" educators on campus.
A string of executive orders signed earlier this year forced West Point leaders to cancel diversity projects and put limits on how professors teach about race, feminism and gender.
"You as of right now, are respected more than any army anywhere in the world, and that's happening," he said, "and let me tell you, you are respected like nobody can believe."
The president was mostly well-received, getting cheers and laughs, especially from families in the stands.
He ended with advice: To "make sure you do what you do," to work hard, and not to lose faith in America.
