Heat, honor and high stakes: Trump addresses Coast Guard Academy graduating class of 2026

President Donald Trump arrived at the US Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, on May 21, 2026, for the commencement ceremony. He flew into Groton-New London Airport shortly before 11 am, traveled by motorcade to the academy and was greeted with a 21-gun salute as cadets in their impressive uniforms lined the field.

Addressing the graduating class, Trump praised cadets for their discipline and service, calling them part of America’s “next generation of guardians.” He spoke for roughly 53 minutes, delivering a mix of motivational remarks and political commentary, including the line: “You will fight, fight, fight and win, win, win.” Outside the academy gates, around 200 protesters gathered during the ceremony.  

Trump said he was the first president to speak twice at a Coast Guard Academy graduation as the event shifted between formal ceremony and lighter moments. Cadet Savannah Riera, president of the Class of 2026, presented him with a football helmet during the ceremony in New London, adding an unexpected symbolic gesture to the proceedings.

During the address, Trump briefly turned to foreign policy, including remarks referencing Iran. “You saw what happened with China just recently. You saw that in Venezuela. You saw that right now in Iran. Everything’s gone there. The Navy’s gone. Their Air Force is gone. Everything is just gone. Do we go and finish it up? Are they going to be signing a document? Let’s see what happens,” he said.

“We have so many people wanting to get into the Coast Guard and all levels of the military now that weren’t even thinking about it. To me that is one of the most exciting things,” Trump said. “You fly into gale force winds, you smash into 50 foot waves. Storm into floods of fire, shrapnel,” Trump said. The ceremony concluded with traditional military pageantry as cadets in full dress uniform were honored at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.