President Trump on Friday told the 20༺18 graduates of the༒ US Naval Academy that were now among the leaders of the most powerful military in the world — and that because of his administration, the US was “respected again.”
“You are now leaders in the most powerf🦋ul and righteous force on the face of the plꩵanet, the United States military, and we are respected again, I can tell you that, we are respected again. A lot of things have happened. We’re respected again,” the commander-in-chief said.
The president praised the 1,042 newly commissioned ensigns and second l🐓ieutenants and highlighted his efforts to boost federal defense spending.
He also maintained the tradition of absolving the class of all minor offenses on 💞their records, and praised the academy’s sports teams, while saying he would not mention the last Army-Navy football game, which the Army won 14-13.
“I will not mention, I promi꧙sed, who won the football game, I will not mention. I won’t mention it. Refuse to say it,” he said to laughter.
The president also praised the 🌼history of 🔜America’s military dominance, but said that in recent years there were people who denigrated the US.
On his watch, he said, that had changed.
“In recent years, and even decades, too man♑y people have forgotten that truth. They have forgotten that our ancestors trounced an empire, tamed a continent, and triumphed over the worst e🍌vils in history,” he said.
“In every generation there have been cynics and critics who tried to tear down America. It is not working too well lately. But in recent years, the problem grew worse. A growing number used their platforms to denigrate America’s incredible heritage, ไchallenge America’s sovereignty, and weaken America’s pride,” Trump said.
But his hike in defense spending and tough stance on the world stage🧜 has changed that, he added.
“In case you haven’t noticed, we have become a lot stronger lately. A lot. We are not going to apologize for America. We are going to stand up for America. No more apoꦇlogies. We are going to stand up for our citizens, we are going to stand up for our values,” he said in a thinly veiled shot at ex-President Obama.
“And we are g꧃oing to stand up for our men and wome🌺n in uniform.”
Trump delivered the commencement speech in Annapolis a day after h♍i🔜ghlighting American military preparedness as he canceled a planned summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
On Twitter Friday, Trump said he looks “forwa🔯rd to being with some of the greatest pꦦeople on earth!”
It will be Trump’s first time speaking to the academy’s graduating class. Last year, Trump addressed the Coast Guard 🧔Academy.