With Cadets Social Distancing And A Backdrop Of Tensions, Trump Speaks At West Point

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President Donald Trump speaks to United States Military Academy graduating cadets during commencement ceremonies.

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John Minchillo/AP

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United States Military Academy graduating cadets wear face masks as they stand next to their socially-distanced seats during commencement ceremonies, Saturday, June 13.

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John Minchillo/AP

United States Military Academy graduating cadets wear face masks as they stand next to their socially-distanced seats during commencement ceremonies, Saturday, June 13.

John Minchillo/AP

The president told cadets that the moment they entered the academy’s grounds, they «became brothers and sisters pledging allegiance to the same timeless principles.»

«You come from the farms and the cities, from states big and small and from every race, religion, color and creed. But when you entered these grounds you became part of one team one family proudly serving one great nation,» the president said.

For most of his remarks, Trump hewed closely to the themes of the commencement ceremony, extrapolating on the school’s motto, «Duty. Honor. Country.» He did not directly address the ongoing nationwide protests against police violence, but did use his remarks to thank the U.S. National Guard in responding to «recent challenges» among them, «ensuring peace, safety and the constitutional rule of law on our streets.»

The remarks came against a backdrop of tensions between the president and current and former military leaders over Trump’s response to nationwide protests over police violence.

Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he disagreed with President Trump’s threatened use of the 1807 Insurrection Act to quell the protests.

On Thursday, Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he regretted appearing with the president during a photo op that followed the forceful dispersal of peaceful protesters near the White House. The incident prompted a stinging rebuke from the president’s first Secretary of Defense, retired Marine Gen. Jim Mattis, who called it «an abuse of executive authority.»

The president has also said he opposes renaming military bases named for confederate generals despite bipartisan support in Congress.

During his remarks, the president also mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic referring to the disease as «an invisible enemy» from a «distant land called China.»

«We will vanquish the virus,» Trump said. «We will extinguish this plague.»

The pandemic had a marked effect on the ceremony. Cadets who’d been sent home because of the coronavirus were called back for the ceremony.

During the ceremony, graduates were seated six feet away from each other. Cadets also donned masks as they crossed the stage. There was also no handshakes and family had to watch the ceremony remotely.