NOW: Trump delivers US Coast Guard commencement speech

[0:00] commencement is not the same as a graduation. A graduation signifies the [0:04] completion of academic requirements for the conferral of a degree while [0:09] commencement on the other hand is an initiation. It signifies that one is [0:15] just beginning a new journey. Commencement has its roots in medieval [0:19] Europe where traditionally young men matriculated through their studies and [0:24] then entered the church or in some cases knighthood. Their commencement [0:29] ceremonies were joyous celebrations that signified the start of their [0:33] vocation and the rest of their lives. And so it is today at the United States [0:38] Coast Guard Academy, we will have a commencement as we send off our [0:43] promising young men and women into service as commissioned officers in [0:47] the United States Coast Guard. Yeah, we're allowed to clap. We're gonna have some [0:54] fun. Now, many of you in the stands having raised or supported your graduate [1:02] for many years, you may be inclined to still view them as young, inexperienced, [1:07] perhaps not ready for what lies ahead. And be assured my parents felt the same [1:13] way 22 years ago when they sat in your seats and their concerns were valid. One [1:19] of the climatic moments that we'll see of today's ceremony is when our cadets [1:24] will divest themselves of their cadet uniforms by tossing their cadet gear in [1:29] the air where it will then be replaced with their officer covers and shoulder [1:34] boards. In my case, I gave my parents and many of the faculty and staff cause for [1:40] concern regarding my fitness to serve when I showed up to commencement with the [1:44] wrong set of these shoulder boards. That's right after four years of rigorous [1:49] training that fine tuned my attention to detail, my parents were left holding my [1:54] new ensign shoulder boards in place. The ones I brought were not compatible with this [2:04] service dress uniform. But take heart because I made it and if I can, I know your graduates [2:09] are ready as well. And in case any of them brought the wrong shoulder boards today, please [2:13] be nice to them. In the spirit of being semper paratus, I may have an extra set just in case [2:20] your ensign requires them. This is actually part of the instructional design of the 200-week [2:25] practicum, which we define as the application of theory under supervision with reflection and [2:31] feedback. This practicum is designed to have cadets experience mistakes, setbacks, and even failures [2:37] from which they learn and grow. Your graduates struggled with shining shoes, calculus, drawing [2:42] track lines into shoal water, and even throwing up over the windward rail of Eagle. That's a no-no. [2:49] To quote Lennon and McCartney, we all get by with a little help from our friends. And in my case, [2:55] I got by with a little help from my parents holding my shoulder boards. So on behalf of every member of the [3:01] class of 2026, they thank you for being that support that they've needed throughout their arduous 200-week [3:08] journey. These journeys didn't just start at CGA. They started long ago in the homes they left [3:15] through tearful goodbyes to loved ones in the summer of 2022. The academy swore in 302 swabs that day from [3:23] a total of 1,781 applicants. They already had overcome improbable odds to have the privilege [3:31] of reporting for duty and walking through the hallowed gates. But that was just the beginning [3:37] of what's to come. So let's turn now to our scoreboard and see what unfolded. The summer's [4:13] day I was getting the mail in from the front porch and there was a picture of a cadet and the rigging [4:18] on the Eagle and it said college should be an adventure. I had already made arrangements to go to [4:23] North Carolina State University, had a dorm room. So my mindset as a high schooler was I want to get into [4:30] the most challenging competitive situation I put myself in with the best group of people I can [4:36] surround myself with and that's why the service academy to me sounded like the best approach to [4:41] really challenge myself. It was kind of a instrumental decision for me. I'd say the doubt started day one [4:50] and I was pretty intimidated and afraid and homesick all that stuff was happening. That suave summer [4:57] we were doing 1700 push-ups in a day and it was never how many push-ups could you do or how do we [5:03] break you down but it was could you do one more and when we thought that you were getting pushed [5:08] right up to your limit there was always space for like one more push-up in that case and to me that [5:15] that became an analogy for how the whole cadet experience was. And I was doing very badly academically [5:20] and I was doing very badly militarily and I was on all kinds of different probations. Got the first F [5:28] I've ever gotten in my entire life. And I was telling my mom like I'm not gonna I'm not gonna make it here [5:33] this isn't for me. Almost every week I was telling her I'd do another week and then I was quitting. Well [5:38] she writes me a long long letter. She says dear Carrie it's midnight and I'm so mad at you that [5:44] I could spit. I don't know what your problem is and why you're doing so badly but you need to just [5:50] buckle down and work hard because you're a good smart girl and you just need to get some better study [5:55] skills. Second semester my fourth class year was the first time I had anyone reach out to me from home [6:01] about being at the academy and it was a girl who was working on a project for school about females [6:08] that she has been inspired by just by doing what they do on a day-to-day basis. She asked me to send [6:16] her pictures of me in uniform. It was the first time for me that I realized me being at the Coast Guard [6:22] Academy wasn't just a big deal to myself my family but other females around me. And I think nothing in and [6:30] of itself has inherent value individually but put them all together and there is something special [6:36] about the sum of the parts. So whether it's drill, shining our shoes, cleaning the head before a [6:41] foreign wing inspection, standing guard mount or warning colors duty in addition to calculus and chemistry [6:49] but you knew there was a training purpose behind all this attention to detail that we were doing. [6:53] That level of bond with other human beings is special and I know that I could pick up the phone [7:02] and call other classmates to say hey I need you right now. They dropped what they were doing. They [7:11] would be there for me just like I'd be there for them. So there's something special about the academy [7:17] and the process that brings people together. You become a family. Every aspect of this place pushes [7:26] you one way or another. Being from this place is such an achievement. Being an officer in the Coast Guard [7:33] is really that amazing. It's really that incredible to be part of that and have that influence on the [7:38] people you're helping and the people that are working with. And you don't really discover who you are [7:43] until you get put into that crucible of getting thrown into the thick of things. And if you allow [7:48] yourself to just take an easier route you're going to regret finding out who you really are. If you can [7:54] make it through the academy you're going to discover so much about yourself. The day I left the academy was [8:03] the most emotional day of my life. I got into the car and drove away and looked out the back windshield [8:10] and waved and cried saying goodbye to the people I've been with my whole life. But if at that moment [8:18] I had only known that when I got to the academy I was going to have a whole new family that I love so [8:24] much and they're basically a home away from home. I probably wouldn't have been as sad on the day [8:32] that I left that I left home. The academy's impact on our nation goes back almost 150 years when nine [9:00] cadets sailed the topsail schooner Dobbin from Baltimore, Maryland on a two-year training voyage. [9:07] Other significant moments and places in Coast Guard Academy history include the historic [9:11] Revolutionary War Army installation Fort Trumbull just about two miles south of us down the river [9:18] which was turned over to the Revenue Cutter Service in 1910. The fort housed the Revenue Cutter Academy [9:24] which was renamed the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1915 after the Revenue Cutter Service and U.S. [9:30] Life Saving Service were merged to form the modern U.S. Coast Guard. In 1926 the academy selected a black [9:39] bear as its mascot and soon after a live bear cub named Obji short for objectionable presence arrived [9:47] on campus. For more than 50 years the bear cub was kept on campus until 1984 when the last live mascot [9:54] was retired to a farm in upstate New York. Today Obji is memorialized by a statue in Bear Plaza and by [10:01] cadets who routinely wear a mascot costume at pep rallies and athletic events. In 1932 the academy moved [10:10] to the location we are at today. Cadets initially moved into Hamilton Hall where their classrooms, [10:16] barracks and library were all located. Today the facility has expanded to encompass 34 buildings [10:23] and 103 acres. To complement the academy's shoreside facilities the Coast Guard sought a permanent afloat [10:30] training vessel to replace the more ad hoc summer experiences that had been the norm up to that [10:36] point. Following World War II the United States seized the vessel now christened as Eagle as a war prize [10:43] from Nazi Germany. Eagle left Germany and arrived in her new home in New London in 1946 where she has [10:50] served continuously ever since as a sail training vessel for our cadets. In fact Eagle is currently dutifully [10:57] executing her missions at sea off the east coast of the United States in celebration of America 250 [11:04] as I speak. Let's take a look at what they might be up to. It looks very exciting and it is. Ladies and [12:43] gentlemen I want to make another announcement about the heat and the water and your ability to go into [12:48] Ballard Hall. We're obviously in a situation where the heat is considerable and so please ensure your safety [12:57] make sure you are hydrating as best as you can. As a nation we have long been inspired by the promise [13:04] of America and some historic American figures have chosen to capture the emotion of promise [13:09] through song. One such American Catherine Lee Bates was a literature professor who taught at Wellesley. [13:15] In 1893 while visiting Colorado Bates hiked Pikes Peak. At the top of the 14,000 foot summit she was overcome [13:24] by the majesty and splendor before her. The impact caused her to write a poem which she first called [13:30] Pikes Peak. The poem demanded someone put it to music. Samuel Augustus Ward, an organist and choir [13:37] director at Grace Church in Newark, New Jersey took on the challenge. Her words, his music, and America the [13:44] Beautiful was born. By the 1920s many believed America the Beautiful should be the national anthem of the [13:51] United States. However, as you likely know in 1931 Congress officially gave that honor to the Star [13:57] Spangled Banner. On a day where we are gathered here in celebration of these graduates who have chosen a [14:03] life of service and embody the third stand of America Beautiful as they are those quote who more than self [14:11] their country loved. Let's pause for a moment and listen. Ladies and gentlemen, America the Beautiful. [17:23] Thank you, Coast Guard Band. America the Beautiful also speaks of heroes. The Oxford Dictionary defines a [17:29] hero as a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. [17:36] Members of the Coast Guard are often put in situations that provide them opportunities to act [17:41] heroically. It is our mission, our ethos, and Coast Guard heroes know that heroism without teamwork [17:47] is nearly impossible. The Class of 2026 will remain a team for the rest of their lives, [17:53] overcoming adversity, and working together to solve problems our great nation faces. Although very [17:59] different from prior classes demographically, in many ways the Class of 2026 has been trained and [18:05] prepared just as those classes before them. In fact, many of the traditions, indoctrination, [18:11] and training evolutions remain similar to decades past. Let's see what the last four years of training, [18:18] along with some fun, at CGA looked like for the Class of 2026. [18:22] If you don't know me, my name is Nick. When I got into the Coast Guard Academy, [18:27] it was the greatest day of my life. Little did I know what lied ahead of me. The start of my academy [18:32] journey was marked by a seven-week training period called Suave Summer. After those long seven weeks [19:11] that ended, I picked up a camera and decided I wanted to show the world what the year ahead of me had to [19:15] offer. So let me take you along for the ride. [20:49] The start of my academy journey was marked by a seven-week training period. [23:11] At the end of that video, we saw first-class cadets on billet night, that wonderful and exciting night [23:18] where the graduating class finds out where their first assignment is and what they will be doing [23:23] as officers. Will they go to flight school in Pensacola or a fast response cutter in Guam, [23:28] a buoy tender in Alaska, a marine inspection billet in New Orleans, or a national security [23:34] cutter in Charleston? So many possibilities, all filled with challenges and opportunities [23:40] to lead, learn, and grow. The men and women who have served together in the Coast Guard have [23:48] unbreakable bonds forged through shared experience. This bond was evident this past year as the Coast [23:54] Guard was impacted by a federal lapse in appropriations, including the longest shutdown of the Department [23:59] of Homeland Security. The Coast Guard and Academy community owe a heartfelt thank you to organizations [24:04] that stepped up to ease the financial strain placed on military and civilian members of the Coast Guard [24:10] during this period of hardship. One such organization, Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, is headed by [24:16] an Academy Class of 2003 alum, Commander Retired Brooke Millard. During the past fiscal year, CGMA provided over [24:22] $3.6 million in assistance to Coast Guard civilian employees, assisting over 1,400 of our colleagues, [24:30] while also providing $100,000 in grants for Coast Guard child development centers and Coast Guard [24:36] firefighters supporting base operations. Other thank yous go to the Coast Guard Foundation and the Alumni [24:42] Association for their continued support. In a few minutes, the Class of 2026 will proceed down the [25:44] hill from Rowland Hall through the south end of Cadet Memorial Field and take their seats as cadets for the [25:51] very last time. Following the cadets will be the faculty, officers in their whites, and civilians decked [26:05] out in their regalia or business attire. Civilian academic regalia denotes many things, including the [26:11] type of degree the wearer holds and the institution that granted their degree. The faculty will be led onto [26:18] the field by Dr. Karen Wink, who will be carrying the Academy mace. During the Middle Ages, the wood mace, [26:24] clad in metal, was an effective weapon in battle. But as newer and more powerful military arms developed, [26:31] it was transformed into a symbol of dignity and authority. Today, the use of the ceremonial mace [26:38] is found in the United States House of Representatives and in university and college convocations [26:44] and commencements. Finally, from the Alumni Center on my right, we will welcome the official party [26:50] and President Donald J. Trump, the President of the United States of America. As a reminder, [27:07] following commencement, you are welcome to meet your ensigns at your pre-arranged location. Access to [27:14] the field will be off limits shortly after the ceremony concludes. You are welcome to walk around campus [27:27] and take as many pictures as you would like. I personally suggest Bear Plaza or Crown Park for those [27:36] premier photo opportunities. I also need to properly train you on something you will likely hear from [27:44] stage once the commencement begins. You might hear, Go Coast Guard, in which the proper response would be, [27:54] Go Bears! So let's practice one time. Go Coast Guard! You're exceptional. I'm going to leave you with some [28:05] motivational footage of your Coast Guard at work defending and protecting our great nation. Thank you to [28:13] you all. Congratulations to you all and your ensigns and Go Coast Guard! Good morning ladies and gentlemen. [38:02] Welcome to the 145th commencement exercises of the United States Coast Guard Academy. I am Master Chief [38:09] Evan Birch, the Command Master Chief of the Coast Guard Academy. Please rise for the arrival of the [38:13] Superintendent and remain standing for the National Anthem. This time I invite Dr. Karen Wink to the [40:42] podium. As mace bearer, Dr. Wink is among the most senior members of the faculty and personifies the [40:47] ideal of learning at the Coast Guard Academy. 145th commencement exercises of the United States Coast [41:07] Coast Guard Academy are now convened. Captain Sonny Mitchell, Chaplain, United States Coast Guard Academy [41:23] will now deliver the invocation. Let us pray. Eternal Father, strong to save, we give you thanks and praise [41:37] today as we announce to the world that the Coast Guard Academy class of 2026 is now officially Semper Paratus. [41:46] We rejoice that four years ago these men and women responded to your call to serve and their continued [41:53] dedication to this higher calling has carried them from suave summer to this moment. And as the great [42:00] responsibility of leadership is placed upon their shoulders of these men and women, we pray in your [42:06] divine mercy that you confer upon these graduates enduring wisdom, courage, strength, compassion, [42:13] integrity, which will fortify them at sea, on land, and above the waves. May your grace and mercy [42:20] continue to empower these young leaders as they move to take their place among the rich traditions [42:27] that they will inherit. We pray this in your most holy and precious name. Amen. Thank you, Chaplain. [42:38] Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. Platform party and presenters of commissions, please join the [42:44] class of 2026 and uncover. All other military personnel, please remain covered throughout the ceremony. [42:55] I now have the pleasure of introducing the 44th superintendent of the United States Coast Guard Academy, [42:59] Rear Admiral Greg Rothrock. What a beautiful day. Distinguished guests, honored international [43:15] delegations, alumni, veterans, faculty, staff, coaches, families, and friends. Welcome to the United States [43:26] Coast Guard Academy, the home of the United States Coast Guards Officer Corps. To the great class of 2026, [43:40] congratulations. You did it. Today marks the culmination of 200 weeks of relentless hard work, [43:55] perseverance, sacrifice, and growth. You have pushed through challenges that tested your limits, [44:03] and you've emerged not just ready, but as exceptional leaders. In a few minutes, you will receive [44:10] your hard-earned degrees, raise your right hands, take the oath of office, and accept your commissions as [44:17] ensigns in the United States Coast Guard. You will walk off this campus no longer as cadets, but as [44:24] officers, leaders prepared to serve. This is truly a momentous day for the academy, for the Coast Guard, [44:32] and for our nation. We thank the president for presiding over today's ceremony and for the strong [44:38] support that he has shown our service. And we are privileged to welcome him back to our 103-acre campus [44:45] along the Thames River, where we build leaders who will defend our maritime borders, secure our nation's [44:51] interests, and project American maritime strength, security, and prosperity at sea and around the globe. [45:00] Thanks to the fiscal year 2025 budget reconciliation, the Coast Guard Academy has received millions in [45:07] critical funding to strengthen all three pillars of our leadership development program, military, [45:14] athletics, and academics. This will include monumental renovations to Chase Hall Barracks, [45:24] a world-class aquatic center, and a new science and technology building. These strategic investments [45:31] will pay dividends for decades and result in a more capable and more resilient maritime force. [45:37] And while we evolve and modernize this campus, the core purpose remains unwavering. We are committed [45:46] to producing officers who are ready. Ready to lead with character, ready to adapt to any challenge, [45:54] and ready to serve. Unlike any other federal service academy, 100 percent of the Coast Guard's officer [46:02] core passes through these gates. This institution forges the character, the values, and the future [46:12] direction of the service. As we approach the Coast Guard Academy's 150th year, and we will welcome the class [46:21] of 2030 this summer, I can assure you we are committed to excellence, to honor, respect, and devotion to duty, [46:30] and to producing leaders and warriors who put America first. Like the generations of the long blue line [46:39] who came before them, the men and women of the class of 2026 stand ready to protect our maritime borders, [46:47] combat threats to our homeland, and defend our national interests with skill, courage, and unyielding loyalty. [46:56] I can say with complete confidence, they are ready to serve, wherever and whenever our nation calls. [47:06] To the families and friends of the class of 2026, to the parents who guided, the siblings who stood by, [47:15] the mentors and role models who offered wisdom and encouragement, today we celebrate not only [47:23] the graduates achievements, but the vital role each of you played in making this day possible. Take great [47:32] pride in what they have accomplished and in the extraordinary service that lies ahead. To our [47:47] dedicated faculty, staff, and coaches, thank you. You have instilled in these graduates the timeless [47:54] values of the Coast Guard and have challenged them each to become their very best. Class of 2026, [48:01] if you could please join me in a round of applause for your family, friends, mentors, and the entire [48:06] academy leadership development team. It'd be great if we could stand for that. Thank you. [48:31] So now to the great class of 2026. Over the past four years, you earned qualifications, [48:39] you built lasting relationships, you mentored your divisions, you led on the fields of competition, [48:45] you brought home championships, you set high standards, and you delivered academic excellence. [48:52] As first class cadets, you guided the Corps with maturity and purpose. Today is not the end. [49:02] It is the proud beginning of your service as commissioned officers in the Coast Guard. [49:08] Congratulations to each of you. Now of the graduates before us, seven international cadets have enriched [49:22] our Corps while proudly representing their home nations. At this time, we invite these international cadets [49:29] and their delegations to stand as I call their names. Please hold your applause until all have been [49:37] recognized. From Guyana, Verlin Gibson. From the Philippines, Arlen Bangsoy, Matthew De La Vega, [49:52] and Ilissa Flores. From Honduras, Carlos Zavala. From Taiwan, Song Kai-seng. From Vietnam, Nan Ta. [50:14] Please join me in a heartfelt round of applause. All of the cadets before you will join a Coast Guard [50:35] in the Coast Guard. They are operating in complex, dynamic environments at sea, in the air, across cyberspace, [50:43] and along our borders, and around the globe. They possess the training, the resilience, the moral compass, [50:52] and the warrior spirit to meet every challenge. Class of 2026, trust yourselves. Believe in your shipmates, [51:02] lead with integrity, and always put your mission and country first. Congratulations. All of our cadets, [51:21] you will always have a home here on this campus. We cannot wait to see the great things you will [51:28] accomplish in all of your years of service ahead. And so as the announcer said you might hear earlier, [51:36] here we say, Go Coast Guard! I'll do that one more time. Go Coast Guard! It is now my privilege to [51:47] introduce this year's distinguished graduate. The distinguished graduate is the cadet who has [51:53] achieved the highest military precedence average across academics, military performance, and the [52:00] physical fitness program over their entire 200-week program. This year's distinguished graduate is cadet [52:08] first class Matthew Lanzalotta. First class Lanzalotta is from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and a member of [52:17] Delta Company. He is a marine and environmental sciences major with concentrations in marine science and [52:25] geospatial intelligence. His capstone research focused on testing short-range unmanned aerial systems to [52:32] augment aids to navigation inspections. First class Lanzalotta participated in the service academy exchange [52:40] program and attended the United States Air Force Academy during his second class year. He was the trap and [52:47] skeet team captain and led the team in competitive shooting events against fellow service academies. He [52:53] is the son of Paul and Martha Lanzalotta and has an older brother, John, and he is proudly engaged to [53:00] Riley Drew of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Upon graduation, first class Lanzalotta will depart to Pensacola, Florida, [53:09] and report to basic flight training. And it is my great honor to introduce the distinguished graduate of the [53:14] United States Coast Guard Academy, class of 2026 cadet first class Lanzalotta. Good morning, [53:39] Rear Admiral Rothrock, distinguished guests, faculty and staff, family and friends, and of course, [53:48] the great class of 2026. Our time here at the academy is strictly defined in terms of length, [54:01] when we wake up in the morning, what we do during the day, and when we can leave. But how a class navigates [54:11] from the start to the end is largely on the shoulders of a class. During our fourth class year, [54:17] we chose our motto to be, we will find a way or make one. And that is how we navigated our time here. [54:24] When we walked through the arches of Chase Hall four years ago, on that rainy, humid June day, [54:31] we did not yet have a way. We chose the motto because the words were aspirational. And over the next four [54:37] years, our relentless optimism and our consistent drive enabled us to grow into the class that the [54:45] motto challenged us to be. We followed the paths set before us and made new ones for those who will [54:52] come after us. Some paths are well worn. The classes before us have endured and overcome challenges of [54:59] their own. And we've heard all about those challenges from those classes, especially some of the older [55:05] classes. And they've told us how they're the last real class because of the challenges they've [55:11] endured and the things they've done. And we too are the last real class because the last we shared [55:18] together in the challenges we overcame. But we also experienced many firsts as a class that made us [55:25] distinct. This year, our women's rugby team led the programs to the first collegiate national title. [55:38] Our class was the first to implement a phased approach to summer training and the first to [55:43] graduate ensigns with minors in emergency management. We pioneered new career pipelines [55:49] into physician assistant school into deployable special forces directly from the academy. First [55:54] to ever do it. We found ways through challenges that tested our resolve but never did it alone. [56:02] Our faculty and staff have shown up for us every day with professionalism, patience, and care. [56:09] And they have taught us, coached us, mentored us, and kept us moving forward every single day. [56:15] That commitment has left an impression on our class and it deserves our gratitude. [56:20] So I'd like to take a moment if the class would like to turn around and look behind you. [56:25] Behind you sit faculty and staff, family and friends, loved ones who have poured into you, [56:32] supported you on your hard days, and celebrated you on your good ones. And our class found a way [56:38] way because you supported us every step of the path to this stage. Thank you. [56:43] Our time here is made up of many moments. Some feel big and extraordinary and some feel much smaller [56:55] and very ordinary. And we face those moments with hopefulness and a drive to overcome the challenges [57:02] around them. The big moments we will always remember are our last push-up on the parade field after [57:09] swab summer, receiving our class rings at ring dance, school dances, billet night, where we cheered so [57:17] loud it was difficult to hear Captain Ensley announce the next billet. Those moments were moments [57:23] of momentum. And as I learned in physics class, once an object is emotion, it's difficult to stop. [57:30] In our class, the class of 2026 is difficult to stop. There were also many smaller moments that carried us [57:40] here. Staying in the wardroom long after food was served to spend time with friends, spontaneous [57:46] conversations at the OOD desk, running into cadets in public on the golf course, and late night [57:52] see-saw runs for energy drinks and snacks to attack long procrastinated work. In those moments, [57:59] and the attitude we brought to each next assignment, each next day, and each next semester is how we made [58:06] our way to where we stand today. Soon, we will all report to units where we will have much to learn. [58:13] The Ensign bars we are anxious to put on our shoulders are not ones of experience, but ones of [58:19] heavy responsibility. However, the attributes that carried us forward these last four years will [58:26] matter much more than pretending we have all the answers. If we enter our new jobs with humility, [58:33] relentless drive, and consistent optimism, we will continue to blaze new paths forward. When a Cutters [58:40] bridge is exhausted, a watch floor is overwhelmed with calls, or the weather takes a turn for the [58:45] worse, the class of 2026 will be ready. We will find a way or make one. Thank you. [58:52] Please rise for the arrival of the official party and the rendering of honors. Platform party covers. [1:03:41] Coast Guard arriving. Homeland Security arriving. Ladies and gentlemen, the 45th and 47th President of the [1:06:46] United States of America arriving. Covered military personnel, hand salute. Ready, two. Ladies and [1:08:27] gentlemen, please take your seats. Please rise for honors with a 21-gun salute and ruffles and flourishes. [1:08:45] Hand salute. Ready, two. Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. It is now my privilege to introduce [1:11:18] the Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Kevin E. Lunday. Good morning. Linda Lee and I are honored to be here [1:11:32] today. President Trump, thank you for coming back today to charge these new officers as they head [1:11:38] out to our operating forces. Thank you for your visionary leadership to renew the Coast Guard, [1:11:44] starting with last year's record capital investment, sir, to buy new cutters, boats, aircraft, facilities, [1:11:50] and technology. Sir, we've already spent $13 billion of that to meet your intent, and we're on track to [1:11:56] spend nearly all of it by the end of this year. Thank you for your strong 27th annual budget that, [1:12:02] when funded by Congress before October, will grow our service by nearly 6,000 people to operate [1:12:08] those new assets. And thank you for your resolute advocacy for not just the Coast Guard, but all of [1:12:14] our armed forces, sir. Secretary Mullen, thank you. Secretary Mullen, thank you for your leadership [1:12:27] and support of our Coast Guard, men and women, and their families. And under the President's direction, [1:12:32] for fighting to successfully fund the Coast Guard and the rest of DHS, and ensure that what happened [1:12:38] this year never happens again. We will not forget what you did, sir. To the superintendent, faculty, [1:12:51] and staff, thank you for forging these men and women into leaders of character who are ready for the [1:12:55] call. To the parents, families, and friends, you laid the firm foundation of character and values for [1:13:01] these graduates. Their success reflects your enduring love and support. Thank you. To the Class of 2026, [1:13:08] congratulations. Four years ago, you arrived as individuals, Americans drawn from across our great [1:13:17] U.S. territories in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Marriott Islands, and American Samoa. [1:13:24] You were joined here by international students from allied and partner nations. Today, as you march out, [1:13:30] you do so as a unified team, forged in the crucible and bound together by a shared calling to serve with [1:13:36] honor, respect, and devotion to duty. You will serve at a time of historic consequence. The maritime domain [1:13:43] is more complex, contested, and more vital to American security and prosperity than ever before. [1:13:50] And today, the Coast Guard is in greater demand, and we are delivering proven value and results [1:13:55] to the American people. We save lives. We secure and defend our homeland and its maritime approaches, [1:14:02] from the borders of the mainland U.S., throughout the Caribbean and the Western Hemisphere, to Alaska [1:14:08] and the Arctic, to Hawaii and the three territories in the Pacific, and in cyberspace. We facilitate [1:14:14] commerce through our ports, waterways, and shipping, vital to America's economic prosperity, and to [1:14:20] rebuilding the nation's maritime might. And we respond to crisis. At the same time, our service is [1:14:27] implementing the President's vision to renew the Coast Guard through forced design, a generational [1:14:32] transformation that's building a new fleet of assets and bringing in the additional men and women [1:14:38] who will operate them. Our people are our greatest treasure. And as we build the most advanced ships in the [1:14:44] world, they are nothing without their crews and the leaders of character to command them. You are [1:14:52] those leaders. You'll soon report to your first units to lead across our operating forces aboard [1:14:57] cutters, at sectors, in deployable specialized forces teams, and at Coast Guard Cyber Command. [1:15:04] First, though, you will take the oath to support and defend the Constitution that accompanies your military [1:15:09] commission. The commission is more than words. It is a direct grant of constitutional authority from our [1:15:16] President and Commander-in-Chief to you, and it represents a sacred trust with the American [1:15:22] people. As commissioned officers in the profession of arms, you must lead as if your lives depend on it. [1:15:30] For certain, the lives of the men and women you lead, their lives will depend on it. And the lives of the [1:15:36] American people we serve will depend on it. The Academy has prepared generations of officers, [1:15:43] and you have spent four years preparing for this moment. And I know you are ready. I am incredibly proud [1:15:51] to serve as your commandant. Looking to the horizon, I have certain hope for the future. For there's one [1:16:00] thing our distinguished service history proves. With a ready Coast Guard crew and the strong support of the [1:16:06] American people, there is nothing we can't accomplish. Semper Paratus. I'm now honored to introduce a distinguished [1:16:21] leader who knows what it takes to secure our United States and enable our Coast Guard and the Department [1:16:26] to deliver mission success. A fighter who's always in our corner, leading from the front. Our Secretary [1:16:33] of Homeland Security, Mark Wayne Mullin. Thank you, Admiral Lundy. And thank you, Mr. President, [1:16:51] for allowing me such an honor to serve in your cabinet at such a historic time. As Secretary of Homeland, [1:17:00] it's a very humbling position I find myself in and I play no games about who is my favorite out of the 22 [1:17:10] components. I understand the Coast Guard, you're our first line of defense to protecting the homeland. [1:17:18] And our president, our commander in chief, he believes in peace through strength. But he also [1:17:26] understands that not everybody believes in peace and some people only respect strength. Because [1:17:34] of the great men and women who sat in front of me today, you give our commander in chief the options. [1:17:41] Because you're the one percenters. You're the one percent that will stand up and you defend our [1:17:46] freedoms, you defend our constitution, you defend our homeland, you defend our nation. And our commander [1:17:56] in chief loves you for that. As the one percenters, the president has made it his obligation, plus his [1:18:12] mission to fund our military in the way that no other president has done. He's invested millions in [1:18:21] the tunes of 25 billion, actually, to fund the Coast Guard, to bring the Coast Guard back to mission capable, [1:18:30] to not just fit today's missions, but to focus on tomorrow's missions as well. As I stated before, [1:18:39] you're the front line protecting our shores. You protect our inland waterways. You're the law enforcement [1:18:49] of the water. And our president realizes that. Your commander in chief, this isn't his first time to [1:18:58] come and speak at this podium. In fact, this is his second time to come speak at this podium. And I'm [1:19:09] going to go off my notes a little bit to just talk about the ride over here. He had your commandant, [1:19:16] Lundy, in the flying mobile office, or the oval office. And he was bragging about everything from [1:19:25] your uniforms, to how you guys learn how to swim, to your missions capability, and to the fact that [1:19:35] you guys are involved in every mission. And when we're taking down the narco boats to the illegal flag [1:19:41] vessels, you guys are involved in it. And it comes with a great sense of pride for me, because I get to [1:19:49] call our commander in chief also my friend. And for me to stand in front of you today and be able to [1:19:55] introduce him to the one percenters, I take that as one of the greatest honors of my life. So without [1:20:09] anybody waiting on me, because I'm never going to get in the way of this guy, let me introduce your [1:20:14] commander in chief, our 45th and 47th president of the United States, Mr. President Donald J. Trump. [1:20:24] Thank you very much. Thank you very much. That was beautiful. He's a fantastic man. He's a special, [1:20:55] very special man. He always has been. And Mark Wayne, thank you. And hello cadets. And let me begin by [1:21:03] saying a very big congratulations to the class of 2026, special class. It's a true honor to be here [1:21:16] on this magnificent day at one of the most prestigious military academies anywhere in the world. And I'm thrilled [1:21:23] to become the first president to ever give a second keynote address to this storied institution. I am [1:21:31] very proud of that honor. We'll have to try it a third time. We're going to have to try it maybe a [1:21:36] third time, too, to keep that record intact. And a few moments from now, every graduate in the field [1:21:44] will go forth with a even greater honor, one of the highest distinctions anyone can attain. [1:21:51] You'll become commissioned officers in the United States Coast Guard. And our country is hot. This [1:21:56] is a great time. Our country is hot. I hate to say it, but I will. A year ago, a year and a half ago, [1:22:03] two years ago, the last administration, we were a dead country. Right now, we're the hottest country [1:22:09] anywhere in the world. We're respected all over the world. You saw that with China just recently. You saw [1:22:15] that in Venezuela. You saw that right now in Iran. Everything's gone. Their navy's gone. Their air [1:22:23] force is gone. Just about everything. You know, the only question is, do we go and finish it up, [1:22:28] or are they going to be signing a document? Let's see what happens. But we're a hot country. We're the [1:22:33] hottest country. Hottest country anywhere in the world with the strongest, most powerful military [1:22:38] anywhere in the world, and there's nobody close. I want to thank our new Secretary of Homeland Security, [1:22:45] Mark Wayne Mullen, a fantastic man for the introduction, along with Coast Guard Commandant, [1:22:52] Admiral Kevin Lundry. And he is something. He's a special guy. You know, when you get to that [1:23:00] position in the Coast Guard, you're very something. I don't have to ask, gee, how good is he? They have [1:23:05] to be very good. It goes with the territory. And the President of the Republic of Palau, [1:23:12] Surin Gil-Wipps, Jr. I want to thank you very much. And you're here, and we appreciate your being here. [1:23:19] Thank you very much. Over the past four years, this class has been mentioned by an exceptional team of [1:23:32] professors and coaches and military professionals who have shaped you into leaders. You came with very [1:23:39] good quality, but they've shaped you nevertheless. And warriors who revere honor and really honor duty. [1:23:48] You honor duty like very few others can even think about it. So let's give a big round of applause to [1:23:54] the entire faculty and staff that made this possible. And I especially want to thank Academy [1:24:06] Superintendent Rear Admiral Greg Rothrock. Come on. Get up here, Greg. Come here. Come here. He does a [1:24:19] hell of a job. You don't want to mess with him. Don't mess around with him. Thank you very much, Greg. [1:24:26] Fantastic. Also, your Assistant Superintendent Captain Jess Rezioks. Rezioks. Where is he? Where? Nice. Very nice. [1:24:41] Thank you. Commandant of Commandant of Cadets, Captain Aaron Casabunt. Hi, Aaron. How are you, Aaron? [1:24:55] Command Master Chief, Evan Birch. Evan, where are you, Evan? Good job up here, Evan. It's never easy, [1:25:04] Evan, up here, right? You feel more comfortable in the water. And class advisor, Christy Rose. [1:25:13] Thank you, Christy. And of course, where would you be without the wonderful friends and family in the [1:25:23] stands? And there are a lot of them here who loved and supported you. And they were with you every [1:25:29] single step of the way. And they do love you. They do love you. Sometimes they're not forthcoming with [1:25:35] that statement. They're up there. Half of them are crying. Look, their boy, their girl, right? Their boy [1:25:41] or their girl. They call them girl, by the way. And they call them boy. And in 30 years, they'll be calling [1:25:46] you boy and girl, too. They love you. Your parents and your family, please. To all of the moms and dads, [1:25:58] grandparents and family members here on this joyous occasion, thank you for everything you've done to [1:26:04] raise such amazing American patriots. We really appreciate it. What a what a group. And today is [1:26:13] all about the incredible class of 2026 that you've achieved and all of the things that you've achieved [1:26:20] and the exciting future that awaits. You have an amazing future. Very soon, you'll swap your shoulder [1:26:28] boards and you'll join the long blue line of legendary rescuers, seafarers and service members [1:26:34] that fill American hearts with admiration and pride. I've watched it. I've watched you during those [1:26:40] hurricanes in Texas and you got out there and you were going through waves that nobody else would [1:26:46] have done. I wouldn't have done it. I would have said, Captain, I'm not feeling too good today. [1:26:51] Think I have to take a day off. But you would have no you would have none of it. You are really [1:26:56] something. I watched it. You saved so many lives. During my first term, we had one of the worst [1:27:03] hurricanes ever in Texas and the Gulf and the bravery that you displayed was incredible. You [1:27:10] saved thousands. I think the number was 16, 17,000 lives you saved through every generation. The heroes [1:27:18] of the United States Coast Guard have lived by a creed of honor and bravery and sacrifice that [1:27:25] have defied every storm shipwreck and every single enemy attack. In the hour of need, our Coast Guardsmen [1:27:34] have brought hope to the hopeless and swept innocent from the jaws of a raging sea, [1:27:40] seas like nobody's ever seen before in some cases. Guard warriors piloted the famous Higgins boats and [1:27:48] delivered American liberation to beaches of Normandy and sailed through smoke and flame and gunfire [1:27:54] fire to put the Marines and the Guadalcanal very much into play. And they patrolled the distant shores [1:28:04] of Manila Bay and Mekong Delta and the Red Sea. And they patrolled them like nobody has ever been [1:28:10] able to patrol them before or since. For decades, the men and women of this global service have [1:28:18] been defeated and unofficial murder. It says you have to go but you don't have to come back. That's a [1:28:27] statement. You have to go. I think of that. You have to go out. You don't have to go back. And you know [1:28:33] what that means? That means danger. And it's a statement that you live by. This is the unbelievable [1:28:39] heroism and exceptional selflessness that lives in the soul of every single cadet on this field, [1:28:47] every single one of you. And you've all been tested. You'll be tested further and probably at higher [1:28:53] levels as your career goes on. But you've been very strongly tested and you have what it takes. [1:28:59] You're America's first defenders. You are America's first responders. You are the living [1:29:04] standard bearer of America's first fleet. Chief, I could not be prouder of the great class of 26. [1:29:16] Congratulations. Congratulations. Amazing. And I have no doubt to say and just like those Coast [1:29:30] Guard legends who came before you, you will always put America first. We put America first now. We [1:29:37] haven't done that for a long time. But we do that under the Trump administration, I will tell you. [1:29:44] And the whole world is saying, well, America's first. And they put America first. And we help others [1:29:49] too. But we put America first. Four years ago, most of the cadets here today could have gone to almost [1:29:55] any school that you wanted. It's so hard to get into the Coast Guard. I had so many people. Sir, [1:30:01] could you get my son? He wants to go to the Coast Guard Academy. And I look at the son and I say, [1:30:07] he's not going to make it. Terrible. I lost a lot of friends. I lost a lot of friends. But every once in a [1:30:14] a while, I'll call up with somebody outstanding. And they'll generally take care. If they don't take [1:30:19] care, they're fired. So, you know, they have no choice. But you really have outstanding people [1:30:26] coming in. But you chose New London. You chose Cape May. You chose Kodiak Island. You chose the [1:30:35] great service of God and country and the U.S. Coast Guard. And it was the best decision of your lives. [1:30:42] One of the great decisions. You will say it. It's hard to say it now. But you will say it as time [1:30:47] goes by. This will be the best decision of your life when you where you decided to learn, go to [1:30:53] school, this incredible, beautiful place. You came as strangers and American teenagers. You leave as [1:31:00] officers, American warriors and friends forever. You're always going to be friends with each other, [1:31:05] hopefully with me. Today, this field is full of some of the smartest minds, the toughest athletes and [1:31:12] the most tenacious leaders our nation has to offer. It really is. It is very hard to get into this [1:31:21] particular place. It is very, very hard. It is a lot of broken hearts. People don't do it. Good people, [1:31:27] smart people, they can't quite make it. Many of you have excelled academically, but 49 canets have [1:31:36] studied longer and harder than anyone else. The very accomplished Coast Guard Academy scholars. Would you [1:31:43] please stand? These are the really brilliant people. You're all brilliant, but these are perhaps slightly [1:31:49] more brilliant. Don't feel guilty. Don't feel guilty. Never feel guilty about success, right? [1:32:20] But I think it's great. And at the top of your class with the highest score in both military and academic [1:32:27] achievements is distinguished graduate Matthew Langellata. Where is he? Where is he? Come here. [1:32:38] Get up here. Come on. Come on. Get up. Get up here. I want to see this guy. I hate good looking men. [1:33:15] Matthew, that's great. Thank you very much. It's a great honor. We also have the only cadet who earned a [1:33:23] perfect score on every single fitness, as now we're talking fitness. You know who this is already. Well, [1:33:30] this guy must be something. I think we'll have to invite him up. I want to check it out. [1:33:35] For the last four straight years, which they think may be an all-time record, congratulations to Thomas [1:33:42] Roach. Thomas, get up here, please. I want to see. I want to check him out. We're not going to fight with [1:33:53] him. I'm not fighting him. This is not UFC. Please understand that, Thomas. Look at this guy. Look at the [1:34:01] muscles on this guy. I see him on the shoulder. I hurt my hand. It's like hitting a rock. That's great, [1:34:20] Thomas. That's fantastic. Another member of this class is making history as well today. Mike Kedish [1:34:28] becomes the first Coast Guard Academy graduate to ever go straight from the Corps of Cadets into the [1:34:35] Coast Guard Special Forces. So what was that all about? Come on up here. Come on. Let's go. Come on up here, [1:34:43] Mike. I want to see what these guys. I'd like to see like what these guys are like, [1:34:48] because, you know, it's competition for me too. I have to compete with you now. I'm not liking that. [1:34:53] How are you? Fantastic. Wow. That's a big issue. Special people. Thank you very much, Mike. [1:35:07] I hurt my hand. It's like hitting a rock. That's great. Thomas, that's fantastic. [1:35:14] Another member of this class is making history as well today. Mike Kedish becomes the first Coast [1:35:21] Coast Guard Academy graduate to ever go straight from the Corps of Cadets into the Coast Guard [1:35:28] Special Forces. So what was that all about? Come on up here. Come on. Let's go. Come on up here, [1:35:35] Mike. I want to see what these guys. I'd like to see like what these guys are like, [1:35:40] because, you know, it's competition for me too. I have to compete with you now. I'm not liking that. [1:35:46] How are you? Fantastic. Wow. That's a big achievement. These are special people. Thank you very much, [1:35:59] Michael. For the past four years, you've been led by your brilliant class president, [1:36:06] Savannah Wiera. Where is Savannah? Where are you, Savannah? Where are you, Savannah? Where is Savannah? [1:36:18] Savannah, come on up here. I have to. If I didn't invite her up, they'd accuse me of discrimination. [1:36:26] That would not be — I'd be — ladies and gentlemen, the president got sued today. [1:36:31] Savannah, come on up. I have to get her up here, and she looks so fantastic. This is ridiculous. [1:36:41] Nothing like having a little fun. Do you agree? This is your big day. We got to get Savannah up here. [1:36:46] Thank you, Savannah. Wow. This class has also been blessed with many tremendous athletes, [1:37:05] including the Academy's all-time leader in receptions, yards, touchdowns, wide receiver, [1:37:12] Brooke Dester. Where's Brooke? Wow. That's a pretty good record, Brooke. I'll let you come up if you [1:37:22] want. You want to come up? Come on up here, Brooke. Come on. You can see they want you up here, Brooke. [1:37:29] So do we have a little NFL future here, maybe? I don't know. Usually that can happen when you're [1:37:38] leading by that much. That's a lot of achievement. Thank you. You know, we've made it possible. I did this. [1:38:03] We made it possible for people like Brooke that really have a great ability at sport and, in some [1:38:10] cases, will be drafted by the NFL or have a chance of getting into the NFL or baseball or basketball or [1:38:16] whatever it might be. The problem is they had to serve, as you know. They had to serve five years, [1:38:23] and that's not exactly conducive to being drafted very high if you had to go away. So I made a decision [1:38:29] in my first term, and we adhere to it very strongly, that when somebody has the ability to go into [1:38:33] Coast Guard or West Point, Annapolis, Air Force, any of them, if you have a student with extreme [1:38:42] ability that gets drafted and can play in professional football, we allow you to go [1:38:47] immediately and you serve your time in the Coast Guard or whatever after your professional career is [1:38:54] over. And it has made such a difference. It's also made a big difference in recruiting. That's why your [1:39:00] teams are better today than they used to be. So I make these little contributions. I don't know if [1:39:04] people know I made those contributions, but so, Brooke, I want 25 percent of everything you earned. [1:39:10] Thank you, Brooke. I appreciate it. So it's a little bit of a help, [1:39:15] but it actually, what we didn't expect, it made your recruiting much better because you're able to now [1:39:20] recruit the top people, people that really have a chance of getting into professional sports and [1:39:25] one of the reasons you have such good teams. We also have your all-time leader in points in the [1:39:32] assist for women lacrosse, Abby McAllister. Abby? Abby? Where are you, Abby? Stand up, Abby. Oh, [1:39:43] are you that good, Abby? Do you want to come up, Abby? Come on, Abby. Come on up, Abby. See, [1:39:56] we throw them a little off on timing when I do this, but what the hell? We have time, right? This is your day. [1:40:02] And when somebody achieves with these people, we should give them a little extra recognition, [1:40:07] right? That's a tough sport, Abby. I don't know. I'm not going to mess with you. That's great. [1:40:17] That's a big record. Thank you, Abby. Of course, there are those of you who have [1:40:39] made your mark on the school in many other ways, like the mayor of the class, Freddie Wheaton, [1:40:46] the founder of Phi Kappa Granny, Evan Grenahan, and the leader of the e-sports club, Aidan Roszkowski. [1:41:03] They've done a great job. That's good. That's also called leadership. While everyone has worked and [1:41:08] studied hard, some may have spent a little bit too much time at a place called Mr. G's. I don't know [1:41:15] what Mr. G's is. I don't know what it is, but I don't like the sound of this. I'm not. Where am I [1:41:21] going with this one? But we want you all to have a clean slate as you begin your careers. So therefore, [1:41:29] Mr. Superintendent, I hereby absolve all cadets who are on restriction for minor conduct infractions, [1:41:38] and even somewhat major infractions, effective immediately. You guys, you got away with murder. [1:41:50] I was just in a good mood. I was in a very good mood to do that. Every branch of our armed forces [1:41:56] protects American lives, but the Coast Guard is the only service explicitly dedicated to [1:42:01] saving them. You're saving lives. You never leave an American behind and you never would. In the past [1:42:08] year, our Coast Guard heroes have saved over 5,200 lives at least and helped carry out and carry over [1:42:16] 19,000 people to safety. Amazing. One of the special cadets in this class has already saved his first [1:42:25] life during his first class summer, providing life-saving care to the person in distress off [1:42:32] the coast of Alaska. Job well done. That's Mason White. Mason, thank you. Stand up, please. Thank you. [1:42:41] Thank you, Mason. Great job. That was early on, right? Great job. Thank you very much. [1:42:50] When you leave here today, every cadet on the field will be stepping into a critical role in the defense [1:42:56] of our country. To protect our maritime infrastructure, 12 of you will be going to [1:43:02] Coast Guard Cyber Command. That's a big deal. 20 are heading to Coast Guard Flight School. [1:43:08] 23 will join prevention and response. And a whopping 181 cadets will become afloat officers in a fleet. [1:43:18] Because as you like to say, underway is the only way. And that's a pretty cool statement. And you know, [1:43:27] I don't know if you know this, but I was I was telling your leaders before that we have 11, [1:43:34] you know, we're way down on on icebreakers. And we've ordered 11. We're working with Finland. [1:43:40] They make icebreakers. They make the best icebreakers. We're going to learn everything we can learn. [1:43:44] We're going to shortly make them ourselves. But we're making right now currently under construction. [1:43:50] We have 11 beautiful. And I said, come on, when's the first one coming? They said in 28. I said, [1:43:56] I'm going to be here in 28. And maybe I'll be here in 32, too. I don't know. Maybe I will. [1:44:02] But I'm going to be here in 28. And I'll tell you, I said, that's great because I'm going to be [1:44:07] there at the dedication. They have been trying to get icebreakers for years and years. And no president [1:44:13] was able to provide them with what you need to get it done. And I want to thank the country of Finland [1:44:19] because they are known to make the best icebreakers. And I thought going there for starters, you know, [1:44:24] we we tried making one, but it was too front heavy. It wouldn't have worked because an icebreaker [1:44:29] has to come crashing down. And when the front weighs four times more than the back, bad things happen. [1:44:36] So I realized we didn't know what the hell we were doing. I went to Finland and was with the [1:44:41] president of Finland and we worked out a deal and we're making 11 total. Some of them are going to be [1:44:48] made right here. We're going to learn the craft and we're going to have so many icebreakers. You know, [1:44:53] Russia has 48 and we have one very old ones. Ridiculous. And we have the whole arctic. [1:44:58] We have the whole region and we're going to have a whole big fleet very shortly. And they're starting [1:45:03] to come in a very quick fashion. After that, we're going to go way up higher. We'll have [1:45:08] at least 55 within a short period of time. So that'll be great. And you're going to be operating [1:45:12] them and running them. And it's another probably another category. The class of 2026 is graduating at an [1:45:22] incredible exciting time for our nation and the Coast Guard in particular as you enter the office [1:45:29] corps of the greatest military in the history of the world. Our national strength is back. Our morale [1:45:36] is back. We are a confident country again. We have confidence is back. And above all, America is back [1:45:44] bigger and better and stronger than ever before. We have a strong, great, respected country again. [1:45:50] And we went off course. We went very sadly. We went very sadly off course. For years, Washington, [1:45:57] D.C. was run by foolish politicians who thought they could defy the laws of world history, [1:46:05] violating every common sense principle purpose, you know, for preserving national power and national [1:46:11] security. And they surrendered our industrial capacity to other countries, crippled our energy [1:46:17] production through open our borders. We had borders with two just they were open borders, [1:46:24] they called them. People came in totally unchecked and unvetted. You know how many people over four years [1:46:30] in the last term? 25 million people. They came in as murderers. They were coming in from other countries. [1:46:37] They came in from prisons. They were drug dealers. They came in from mental institutions and insane asylums. [1:46:43] They allowed them to just flow into our country. We're getting them out. We've got a lot of them out. [1:46:48] 11,888 murders. Think of that. 50 percent or more than 50 percent committed more than one murder. [1:46:57] They were allowed in our country. We can never forget the sins of what they did to our country. But we're [1:47:03] getting them out. In fact, we've gotten them to the extent that we just had the best crime numbers [1:47:09] in history. The best crime numbers, meaning the lowest crime numbers in history, were just last [1:47:14] month released. Lowest number of murders since the year 1900, 125 years. So what they did to us is [1:47:22] terrible. But we're getting it back into shape really properly. And now we have we went from the [1:47:28] worst border in history to the strongest border we've ever had in 11 months. Not one illegal alien was [1:47:34] able to get into our country. When you think of that, that's pretty amazing. And they can come in, [1:47:40] but they have to come in legally. They have to come in through a process. They have to love our country. [1:47:45] They have to show us that they can love our country, not that they want to blow up our country. I think [1:47:49] that everybody agrees with that. Under this administration, we don't apologize for American [1:47:55] power or wealth. What we do really is we want to maximize it. We take advantage of it. We unleash it. [1:48:02] And we wield it to pursue our country's glorious destiny and our beautiful American dream. We have [1:48:07] the American dream back. You didn't hear about the American dream too much for four years. [1:48:12] And now the American dream is back. This is truly the golden age of America. We are in now the golden [1:48:18] age. We have more production, more people. We have more people working today than at any time in the [1:48:25] history of our country by far. We have more people having great jobs today than at any time in the history [1:48:32] of our country. Our country is respected all over the world. The men and women of the Coast Guard have [1:48:37] a vital role to play in this resurgence. This is a great resurgence. We have 18 trillion dollars being [1:48:43] invested in the United States. That's many, many times more than ever before. In fact, you'd have to go [1:48:51] back more than 10 years. Another country a long time ago had 3 trillion. We have 18 trillion. The last [1:48:57] administration for four years had less than 1 trillion. We have 18 trillion dollars being invested [1:49:03] in our country in 11 months because the numbers for the 12th have not come up. So that's going to [1:49:09] increase it yet further. So that's an honor. It's a great honor. To me, that's something special. We're [1:49:14] building plants, auto plants, every kind of plant you can imagine all over the country. And they're coming [1:49:20] in from Canada. They're leaving other countries. They stole our auto business. They stole our chip business. [1:49:27] We'll have close to 50 percent of the chip business by the time I leave. And right now we have none, [1:49:33] practically. And we'll have, uh, it was taken by other places. It was taken by Taiwan. I'm not knocking [1:49:40] them. I'm saying if they can get away with it. But if you had the right president, that would have never [1:49:44] happened. Wouldn't have been allowed to have happened. You would have put tariffs on and you say, [1:49:48] that's okay. You can steal our business. But if you're going to sell, if you think you're selling [1:49:52] those chips back into us with no tax, you can forget it. And if we did that, we wouldn't have [1:49:58] lost those businesses, the autos, the chips, the semiconductors. We would all of that would be here, [1:50:04] but it's all pouring back into our country right now because of the word tariff. As you know, [1:50:08] one of my favorite words, I got into big trouble. I said, this is my favorite word in the dictionary, [1:50:16] my favorite word, the word tariff and the fake news. Look at all of them back there. They said, [1:50:21] what about God? What about wife family? What about other things like Bible? So I was in deep trouble [1:50:29] because they said tariff is my favorite. So I made it number five and now I'm okay. Now I'm okay. [1:50:36] They think I'm kidding. They gave me a hard time. But with your help, we're reasserting one of the most [1:50:44] time-honored principles of our national security that the American dominance in Western Hemisphere [1:50:49] will not be threatened under any circumstance. As an example, we will not let Iran have a nuclear [1:50:58] weapon. That's all. It's very simple. We will not let that happen. And we have great support. You [1:51:05] wouldn't know that by reading the fake news, but we have great support. People don't want them to have [1:51:10] a nuclear weapon and they will not have a nuclear weapon and they want to make a deal so badly. We'll see [1:51:14] what happens. But we will. We hit them very hard, but we may have to hit them even harder, but maybe [1:51:20] not. But we're not going to let Iran have a nuclear weapon and blow up the entire Middle East, Israel, [1:51:24] the entire Middle East, and then come here for you. Not going to happen. So just as no family can be [1:51:31] truly secure in a violent neighborhood, we will not allow chaos, instability, or danger to fester in [1:51:38] America's own backyard. We're not going to let it happen. One of the reasons we have Mark Wayne, [1:51:43] and one of the reasons that I feel so good about things is he's a tough cookie. You know, [1:51:46] he was a great fighter, too. A great fighter. He was a tough cookie and a very successful fighter. [1:51:53] And his sons are all American fighters, so they have good genetics in that family. [1:51:58] But Mark Wayne is a tough guy with a — I always say he's a tough guy with a great heart, [1:52:04] and that's a good combination. So from the Gulf of America to the frozen waters of the Arctic, [1:52:11] from the shores of Havana to the banks of the Panama Canal, we will drive out the forces of [1:52:18] lawlessness and crime and foreign encroachment, just like we've been doing. You know, we have only [1:52:25] 3 percent coming in. It was — we were getting tremendous — you would understand this because [1:52:30] you were involved in this — we're having tremendous amounts of drugs brought in by sea, [1:52:34] by ocean, by water. And a tremendous amount. A tremendous amount. And we've now reduced that to [1:52:42] 3 percent. So it was a big percentage, and now it's all the way down to 3 percent. And we've hit them [1:52:48] very hard, as you know. Not that it's something we wanted to do. And we never miss. We never miss. [1:52:53] We hit them very hard. And actually, people are trying to figure out who are the 3 percent, [1:52:58] because they happen to be the bravest people, perhaps, anywhere in the world. [1:53:02] There are 3 percent that's left, but I don't even think they have 3 percent. We've virtually [1:53:06] stopped it. And now we're going to stop the drugs coming in by land. And that's the easy one to do. [1:53:11] That's the easy one. I want to thank the Coast Guard, because you've been unbelievable in that [1:53:14] endeavor. Think of it. We had a majority — we had a majority of drugs were coming in by the sea, [1:53:22] by the ocean. And we have virtually stopped that. And now, for the easy part, the land. Much easier. And [1:53:29] it will be equally quick. And we are going to have very — drugs are down by 61 percent. But we want to [1:53:38] get them down to almost nothing, because they've destroyed so many families, so many people, so many [1:53:42] lives. Our Coast Guard cutters are elite tactical teams where the Pivotal is enforcing our successful [1:53:50] blockade. And you just have to see this. We have a blockade that's — they call it the Wall of Steel. [1:53:57] Nobody goes through them. And you're a big part of it. Nobody goes through them. The Navy, the Coast [1:54:01] Guard — we have ships that tried to go through. And they're saying young captains from Coast Guard [1:54:08] Academy, the Naval Academy, Annapolis — and they say, do not proceed further. They have the greatest [1:54:15] loudspeaker system. Much better than this one, let me tell you. It goes over the water. It bounces on the [1:54:21] water. And you have this young, handsome captain saying, do not proceed further. You are in enemy [1:54:28] territory. Do not proceed further, or we will shoot. And you have a ship that's like two football fields [1:54:34] long, that carries two million barrels of oil. Think of that — two million barrels. And on occasion, [1:54:42] they'll try and disobey. And last week, you saw one shot — not a missile shot — a bullet, a very large [1:54:50] bullet. A bullet from four miles hit the rudder of the ship. And the rudder of the ship fell into the [1:54:57] ocean. It was a beautiful thing to see. It just fell in. I said, what the hell kind of a shot was that? [1:55:02] And the man said, no, no, we are going back to Iran. See, now I say Iran. I don't use — because [1:55:10] he obviously has a correct pronunciation. We will go back to Iran. And it took — with a broken rudder, [1:55:18] with the rudder that was laying at the bottom of the sea — it took 10 miles just to turn that ship [1:55:23] back. But nobody violates it. Nobody. And I was with, as you know, President Xi of China two days ago. We had a [1:55:31] tremendous meeting, a very successful meeting. And he agrees our military is phenomenal. I don't [1:55:38] want to go beyond that, but I will tell you, he respects our military tremendously. Our military is [1:55:43] respected. We have, as I said, the greatest military anywhere in the world. And we're going to keep it [1:55:47] that way. We have a budget this year of $1.5 trillion. That's the biggest budget we've ever had. [1:55:54] That includes the Coast Guard. Don't worry about it. Look, they're getting a little bit concerned. [1:55:57] Don't worry. It includes you. You're going to have so many Coast Guard cutters, you're not going to know [1:56:01] what to do with them. You'll have a cutter that's two years old. You say, Captain, I want the new [1:56:05] one. Didn't used to be that way. But you're going to — we have a lot of money coming your way. You [1:56:11] know that. Because of these people and people like them, they made a great case for it. And I'm a big [1:56:16] fan. So, you know, we take care of it while I'm here, because we're going to take care of the Coast [1:56:21] Guard like you wouldn't believe. And in a flawless — thank you — and in a flawless operation last January, [1:56:29] supported by the Coast Guard, America's armed forces captured the outlaw, Nicolas Maduro, [1:56:36] and brought him back to American justice. He's awaiting trial from Venezuela, an attack that [1:56:44] took less than one day. And it was an amazing — I think it's one that's going to be studied for a [1:56:49] long time. Great, great, smart country, very tough military country. But it all took — it really took 48 [1:56:56] minutes and 13 seconds, to be exact. But let's give it one day. And he's now awaiting trial. And [1:57:02] now we have a great joint venture with Venezuela. We have millions of barrels of oil coming into [1:57:08] Houston and coming into parts of Texas and Louisiana and Alaska. And it's been an amazing [1:57:14] thing. You know, Venezuela used to be a really great country 20 years ago. Then it went — it went the [1:57:19] wrong way. It went the way they'd like to take this country. Some lunatics would like to take this [1:57:23] country way, way left, and destroy it. But we're not going to let that happen. We're not letting that [1:57:29] happen. This service has also been at the absolute — at really the center of the battle to restore [1:57:38] sovereign borders for the United States and keep drugs and criminals out of our country. And we're [1:57:42] keeping them out. Since I took office, the Coast Guard has seized over 206 million lethal doses of [1:57:51] illicit narcotics, the most in the history of a country, enough to kill a country, a large country, [1:57:58] many, many times over. And you've seized it, and you seized it constantly, and you don't play games. [1:58:05] Last August, the Coast Guard cutter, Hamilton, intradicted 76,000 pounds of illegal drugs, [1:58:12] the largest Coast Guard drug bust of all time, largest ever. And I'm telling you, the Coast Guard has [1:58:18] always been good. But you've stepped it up even beyond that. Five cadets graduating today were part [1:58:24] of that historic action. And I'll mention their name. Elliott Coles — stand up, Elliott — Jenna [1:58:34] Lewandowski, Piper Stevens, Hannah Wannerkay, and J.J. Banach-Gabel. Thank you. Great job. Thank you very much. [1:58:52] The Coast Guard has also played an important role in Operation Epic Fury to ensure that the Iranian [1:58:58] regime never obtains a nuclear weapon. Just two months ago, off the Coast Guard, Malaysia, [1:59:06] a highly trained U.S. Coast Guard tactical team helped seize a sanctioned Iranian oil tanker that had [1:59:12] been used to transport over a million barrels of oil from Karg Island into the coffers of Iran. We [1:59:19] don't want that to happen. This is the third sanctioned Iranian vessel the Coast Guard has helped [1:59:25] capture since we began the fighting — the real fighting — with Iran. And many more to come, [1:59:33] I suspect, unless they get smart. Everywhere you go, you say, never forget, you represent the most [1:59:39] righteous, successful, and exceptional nation in all of history. And you were really put in a position [1:59:46] where you wear the uniform, the most powerful military ever to sail the seas. You are right [1:59:53] now at the pinnacle of this nation. You are at the pinnacle. Four years ago, three years ago — I [1:59:59] couldn't have said that. I wouldn't have been up here, but I couldn't have said that. You were not at the [2:00:03] pinnacle at all. Right now, you're at the pinnacle of the Coast Guard, at the pinnacle of the military, [2:00:08] and that military includes — the Coast Guard will soon be stronger and more powerful than ever before, [2:00:14] with all of the things we've done. Last year, I signed a record-setting $25 billion investment in [2:00:21] the Coast Guard, including funding for 22 new cutters, 40 new search and rescue helicopters, [2:00:28] 25 state-of-the-art icebreakers. And we're also providing $380 million for renovations and [2:00:37] improvements right here at the Academy. The Academy is going to be so beautiful. It's already beautiful, [2:00:41] frankly, but it's going to be tippy-top, as I say. It's going to be perfect. Under our leadership, [2:00:49] this service is seeing more action than at any time in many decades. I would say at any time, [2:00:55] period. You've never seen what is happening. And the Coast Guard, as good as it has been, [2:01:00] has never seen what's happening to it right now. And the spirit has never been higher. And I think we [2:01:06] can say that. It starts with the leadership. But I think the spirit with the Coast Guard has never been [2:01:11] higher than it's been right now. And I got to know a couple of people over the last two weeks from [2:01:19] the Coast Guard, and I can see why. These are incredibly brilliant people, good people. I have [2:01:25] to say, I don't want to give them any ideas, but in the private sector, they'd be making a lot of money. [2:01:30] And you know what? They wouldn't trade what they're doing. Would you guys trade for millions a year? [2:01:37] Maybe. Maybe. No, you wouldn't. I don't think you would. [2:01:40] A lot of people would like to be in your position that are doing very well, believe me. [2:01:45] In the four years before I took office, the Coast Guard recruitment missed targets by 20 and 25 and 30 [2:01:52] percent. The targets, the recruitment targets. And not only you, the Marines, the Army, Navy, Air Force, [2:01:59] Space Force. That's my baby. I started Space Force. I was very happy. It's going to turn out to be [2:02:05] one of the most important of all. But you miss your recruitment numbers. And it was an embarrassing [2:02:12] time. Not only the military, the police, firemen, anybody with a uniform. They didn't want to be [2:02:17] associated with our country, frankly. And last year, the Coast Guard beat its recruitment goals by 120 [2:02:24] percent. And we have so many people wanting to get into the Coast Guard and all levels of the military now [2:02:30] that weren't even thinking about it. To me, it's one of the most exciting things. When I first came, [2:02:35] we had the election on November 5th. And it really started from the day of the election. [2:02:39] But we had the election on November 5th. But I will tell you, before that, you couldn't [2:02:44] you couldn't recruit people to go into the military. Nobody wanted to be there. [2:02:48] They were trying to reduce standards. Now the standards, I hate to say, are through the roof. [2:02:53] But now we have lines of people wanting to get into every group of whether it's the Navy, the Coast [2:02:59] Guard. And I will tell you, I looked at the numbers, the Coast Guard in particular, you are [2:03:04] you have exceeded your numbers. You have a waiting list that's a mile long of people that want to [2:03:08] get in. So I think I have to say congratulations on that. You know, it's a really it's a really big deal. [2:03:17] And by the end of my term, we are adding 15,000 new Coast Guardsmen. And we're going to have them [2:03:24] added to the list because of all the new equipment that we've ordered. And it's a true honor to be your [2:03:30] commander in chief. I mean, I'm looking at you. I'm glad they get to shake hands of a few of your [2:03:36] outstanding people. But every one of you are outstanding. You're in a category that's really [2:03:43] very unique, very hard to be, very hard to get there. Now, you know, even by the recruitment [2:03:48] numbers, you know, it is. But beyond that, it's just a very special group of people. And you are a [2:03:52] very special group of people as you begin your important new missions and your mission in life. [2:04:00] Today, let me leave you with a few words of advice to maybe help you a little bit on your way. [2:04:07] First, most important, never, ever give up. Never give up. They asked me, how do you be successful, [2:04:13] sir? Starts with never give up. I've learned a lot about life. But the one thing I've really learned is [2:04:20] that perseverance, never quitting, never giving up is a big deal. You'll be right there, right at the [2:04:26] gate. And you've seen it. You've seen it in sports. You've seen it. They're right there at the gate. [2:04:31] And they give up. Never give up. And whatever happens, no matter where you are in life [2:04:37] or what situation you find yourself in and the seas or anywhere else that you may be, [2:04:42] keep pushing forward. Always push forward. Never stop pushing forward. No matter how terrible the [2:04:50] storm, no matter how difficult the mission, never surrender. Keep going. Keep fighting. [2:04:56] And make the adversary quit first. Let them quit. They're going to quit if you keep going. [2:05:01] Second, at this pivotal time of transformation for our armed forces, you have to think big. [2:05:09] It's much better thinking big. Small solutions yield small results. Only big ideas will yield to [2:05:18] tremendous change and greatness. Americans do not want to live in a world ruled by someone else's big [2:05:25] ideas. Live in a future and shape your future. And you want to dominate your future. And you want to [2:05:31] dominate it for your great military and for your country. Think big. During the course of your [2:05:38] Coast Guard careers, it will be time for incredible change. And change is going to happen. Change that we [2:05:45] can't even think of right now. Things will happen. And I believe for the best, hopefully for the best, [2:05:51] but I believe for the best. But things will happen that you can't even imagine. And it's going to be [2:05:57] very exciting. But the way that's going to happen is through thinking big. Nothing great was ever built. [2:06:06] Think of that. Nothing great was ever built without the word momentum at your side. In times of your life, [2:06:13] you'll have momentum. That's the time you go for it. I tell stories about people that lost their momentum [2:06:19] and they went and it didn't work out well. You know when you're doing well. You know when you have [2:06:24] that positive momentum. So take that momentum and go for it. So many people, they wait. They wait [2:06:33] the wrong time. You know when it's right. Go with the momentum. The towering men and women of history [2:06:38] have always been people of action. You answered the call to serve. And now you need to make sure that most [2:06:45] of your time is spent on very important roles in life. You've done a lot and you've had a lot of [2:06:52] relaxation. Frankly, if you enjoy what you're doing, there's no such thing as work. It's not work. [2:06:57] What you're doing, I would say with most of you, it's not work. What you've done is a lot of work, [2:07:02] but it's not work. It really isn't. It's a great pleasure. I find myself, I work a lot. They say he's a [2:07:09] workaholic. I'm not a workaholic. It would be tough if I didn't do things. If I didn't do things, [2:07:13] I don't know what I'd be doing. It probably wouldn't be good. But you got to love it. [2:07:18] And if you love it, it's never considered work. There will always be time for taking the easy path. [2:07:26] And there'll be times when you want to do that or to settle for maybe a short-term fix. [2:07:31] But for the best results, it'll always be a product of unbelievably hard work. That's why I always sign [2:07:37] something. They say, oh, could you put something on? I say, work hard to a young person. Work hard. [2:07:43] Because you have to work hard. It's so competitive. Life is so competitive. You have to work hard. [2:07:48] It's never going to come easy. You have to work hard. A lot of great athletes, they say, [2:07:53] the harder it work. I remember Gary Player, a great golfer. He was somewhat smaller than other [2:07:59] great athletes. And he said, the harder I work, the luckier I get. That was the first time I heard. [2:08:05] I've heard that expression a lot. But the first time was from the great Gary Player, [2:08:09] one of the top three golfers of all time. And he said, the harder I work, the luckier I get. [2:08:15] It's a great expression. Fourth is you go and go into life. And right here at the [2:08:23] Coast Guard, you want to keep your eyes in the boat. You want to have your eyes in the boat. [2:08:28] You know what that expression means better than anybody. Do not be distracted by what's [2:08:33] outside. You just want to look back. And you want to just see what's happening. But keep your eyes in [2:08:39] the boat, a Coast Guard expression. Focus on the task before you and move forward. Always, [2:08:45] always move forward. Never move back. Remember, what actually matters in pursuit of success is [2:08:52] it really has to be relentless. You've got to be relentless. And many of you are relentless. [2:08:58] You wouldn't be here if you weren't, because there are 10 people for every seat that I'm looking at. [2:09:03] 10 people, and I think even more than that, that wanted that seat. And you made it. [2:09:07] So finally, you have to be strong. You have to be really strong. And I don't mean just with muscle [2:09:12] strength. I mean with mental strength. And you have to be brave. In your profession, [2:09:18] you have a level of bravery that has to supersede a normal person's bravery. But that's why you're here. [2:09:26] America was not founded by weak and timid men or women who cowered in the face of evil or sat by as [2:09:34] danger loomed. As President Theodore Roosevelt said, freedom is not a gift that lasts long in [2:09:41] the hands of cowards and weak people. Today, our country faces the threats that are very strong. [2:09:47] But we have a much stronger country today than we had two years ago. [2:09:51] Today, the threats that look really bad. Two years ago, three years ago, we had a country that was [2:09:57] rudderless, just like that ship that had its rudder shot off. We have a country now with very strong, [2:10:03] powerful rudders. But every one of you has your soul, strength and courage to face whatever comes [2:10:11] before you. You're going to do unbelievably well. We just have no idea what I'm looking at. [2:10:16] I look at audiences all the time, but I'm looking at this audience. It's just an incredible group of [2:10:20] people, a beautiful, beautiful, brilliant group of people. So you're brave and you're bold and you're [2:10:27] always ready to go and you inherit the legacy of some of the most daring and [2:10:34] intrepid Americans ever to live. You are inheriting the mantle of some of the bravest people, some of [2:10:40] the most incredible warriors ever right here. A tradition of pride and glory and greatness passed [2:10:46] down from one generation to the Coast Guard heroes to the next. You had great heroes. In World War II, [2:10:54] the Coast Guard was the first branch of the military to seize a Nazi vessel and take enemy prisoners. [2:11:02] The first one to do it was the Coast Guard. The first branch to traverse the Northwest Passage [2:11:09] and the first to sail a ship right up the middle of the frigid seas to the North Pole. You were the [2:11:16] first. You were the first to do so much. And that's not going to change. And now you have equipment. I [2:11:22] think we can say definitely when that all that new equipment comes in, Admiral, you have equipment, [2:11:28] the likes of which the Coast Guard has never had before. So you'll have many ships sailing up. [2:11:32] Instead of one, you're going to be doing things that nobody even thought possible. You have, [2:11:37] you are, you have on order, some of it's already delivered, but you have on order the best equipment [2:11:43] anywhere in the world. There's no other Coast Guard. There's no other, frankly, Navy that has anything like [2:11:48] what's coming your way. On September 11th, 2001, amid the rubble, dust and debris, [2:11:55] it was the Coast Guard that organized the largest boat lift in all of history, [2:12:00] evacuating half a million people from lower Manhattan. That was a terrible day. [2:12:05] The gleaming white hulls and the blazing red stripes cutters have sliced through the horizon of nearly [2:12:13] every major waterway on Earth. Every day, Coast Guard members plunge into pitch black oceans, [2:12:20] rush onto roaring serfs and do battle with Mother Nature at her absolute worst. Mother Nature like [2:12:29] few can imagine it even exists. And I've seen it. I've seen things that I said, nobody's going into [2:12:34] that storm. And you guys go into it like it's just another day of work. You fly into gale force winds, [2:12:42] smash into 50 foot waves, storm into floods of fire and shrapnel and swarm through water so cold that it [2:12:51] will snap a ship in half with just the wrong hit of a wave. But you're fellow Americans. And above all, [2:13:00] you're from the Coast Guard. There's nothing, absolutely nothing that a Coast Guardsman cannot do. [2:13:07] There really isn't. I've seen so much. I mean, as president, I've just seen so much. I've seen people [2:13:12] that were going to be decimated, that were going to be destroyed in sea. I told you about some of the [2:13:17] hurricanes. They were out at sea. They were boating and they got caught. They wanted to go a little [2:13:21] closer, a little closer, a little closer. And then they got gobbled up by nature. And the only way they [2:13:27] could have survived was what you people were able to do. You went in there and you got them. It wasn't [2:13:32] easy. It's very dangerous. No matter how perilous the task, you're unafraid and you're you're just an [2:13:40] unstoppable force. And you want to stay that way. The U.S. Coast Guard has never, ever let us down. [2:13:47] And with men and women like the great class of 2026, I know that will never happen. You're going to go [2:13:54] on to greatness, the likes of which even the Coast Guard has not seen. So wherever the duty calls, [2:14:01] whatever danger comes our way, you will fight, fight, fight, and you will win, win, win. [2:14:07] I want to just say a very strong God bless the Coast Guard Academy, the class of 2026. [2:14:14] God bless the United States military and God bless the United States of America. Thank you very much. [2:14:21] Have a great, great and stellar career. Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you. [2:14:27] At this time, I invite the class president, Cadet Savannah Rear to come to the stage to present the class gift. [2:15:00] Mr. President, on behalf of the class of 2026, I present you with this token of appreciation. [2:15:23] I don't know if this is a good trade. This is this event.