NEW LONDON, Conn. — President Donald Trump delivered the keynote address at the 145th commencement ceremony at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy as the war in Iran and global threats abroad mean uncertainty for the 260 graduating cadets.

Family members, friends and alumni of the graduating cadets with the class of 2026 packed the stands at Cadet Memorial Field in New London under a bright clear sky on Wednesday morning. Pomp and circumstance were on full display as members of the U.S. Coast Guard Band played the national anthem along with the official Coast Guard song “Semper Paratus” in front of hundreds of guests and dignitaries.

Cadets hailed from dozens of states and several countries including Honduras, Taiwan and Vietnam, according to the academy.

The ceremony began at 11 a.m. with several speakers including U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin. Air Force One landed at Groton-New London Airport shortly before 11 a.m., according to officials. Trump stepped off the plane a short time afterward and headed to the academy with state police blocking off several roads.

Protesters lined up in front of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy holding signs demanding more transparency on the Jeffrey Epstein files and an end to the war in Iran.

Trump, who last spoke at the academy during his first term in 2017, said the country is currently in a Golden Age and that it is “hotter than ever” and that “the military is back.” Trump is the first president to speak at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy twice, according to officials.

“It’s a true honor to be here on this magnificent day, one of the most prestigious military academies anywhere in the world, and I’m thrilled to become the first president to ever give a second keynote address through this storied institution. I am very proud of that honor. ... And a few moments from now, you graduates on the field will go forth with an even greater honor, one of the highest distinctions anyone can have, you will become commissioned officers in the United States Coast Guard,” Trump said.

“Our country is hot. It 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, two years ago, the last administration, we were a dead country. Right now we are the hottest country anywhere in the world. We’re respected all over the world,” Trump said.

“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 in a reference to the ongoing high-level talks between Iran and U.S. negotiators to end the conflict which has claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members.

Trump also gave a shout out to the parents and other family members in attendance, noting the likelihood of tears of pride and joy.

Graduation marks the culmination of four years of hard work, as cadets are now ready to begin their military careers outside the academy walls. But their future careers remain uncertain, as global conflict abroad and security threats at home mean an increasingly challenging mission.

Just this year, the Strait of Hormuz, which is a critical oil shipping route, has been blocked off by Iran as retaliation against U.S. strikes, causing a global oil and energy crisis. Gas prices have soared to a national average of $4.55 per gallon, according to AAA. Crude oil prices have also spiked to over $100 per barrel, creating economic pressures on Americans wallets.

Trump remains deeply unpopular in many opinion polls and most Americans say they are “worse off” economically as the war in Iran grinds on. About 6 in 10 Republicans approve of how Trump is handling the economy, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. That’s down from about 8 in 10 in February before the war began, spelling potential political trouble for the president ahead of the consequential midterm elections.

About one-third of U.S. adults approve of how Trump is handling the economy, down from when 40% of U.S. adults approved during the start of his second term, according to the Associated Press. Inflation rose to 3.8% last month, the highest since May 2023, showing an increase in prices of consumer goods putting further strain on the economy, according to CNBC. Inflation, which has spiked mainly due to rising energy costs, continues to be on the minds of American voters.

“We will not let Iran have a nuclear weapon. We have a lot of support. You wouldn’t know that reading the fake news,” Trump said. “People do not want them to have a nuclear weapon, and we will not let them have a nuclear weapon. We will hit them very hard if we have to because we’re not going to let Iran have a nuclear weapon and blow up the entire Middle East.”

Coast Guard cutters have recently worked alongside the U.S. Navy to help patrol the Strait of Hormuz, protecting commercial shipping lanes and ensuring safe maritime shipping passage, according to The Associated Press. In addition to aiding in conflicts abroad, Coast Guard members conduct anti-terrorism and narcotics operations, patrol domestic waterways and ensure maritime safety.

“The men and women of this global service have repeated an unofficial motto with pure, unyielding courage. It says you have to go out, but you don’t have to come back. What a statement, you have to go out ... think of that ... you have to go out, but you don’t have to go back. You know what that means ... that means danger, and it’s the statement that you live by,” Trump said.

“This is the unbelievable heroism and exceptional selflessness that lives in the soul of every single cadet on this field. Every single one of you, you’ve all been tested,” Trump said. “You’ll be tested further and probably at higher levels as your career goes on, but you’ve been very strongly testing, and you have what it takes. You are America’s first defenders. You are America’s first responders. You are the living standard bearers of America’s first league. As your Commander in Chief, I could not be prouder of the great class of 2026.”

Coast Guard cadets spend four years at the academy, where they hone their military bearing and skillset, while earning a bachelor’s degree and commissioning as an ensign. Upon graduation, cadets a mandatory active-duty service obligation of five years. The cadets begin the academy with a rigorous seven-week basic training course, followed by four years of classes and military training to become the next generation of Coast Guard leaders, according to the academy.

Each year, the academy announces a distinguished cadet. The honor is bestowed upon a cadet who achieves the highest military average over their four-year career, combining academic GPA, military readiness and athletic performance, according to the academy.

The distinguished graduate of the 2026 U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduating class was Cadet Matthew Lanzilotta, according to the academy. Lanzilotta, from Virginia Beach, Virginia, chose to attend the Coast Guard after working in ocean rescue as a lifeguard on one of the largest resort beaches on the East Coast. Through that experience, he discovered a passion for helping others during moments of crisis and sought a career centered on service, he said.

“The biggest lesson I learned at USCGA is the value of admitting when you are wrong,” said Lanzilotta. “Mistakes are inevitable, but owning them, learning from them and moving forward with humility is what builds trust.”

The Coast Guard is unique because it is both a branch of the military and a federal law enforcement agency, according to the academy. Coast Guard members act under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime and can be transferred to the Department of the Navy during war. The Coast Guard, first established in 1790, has more than 76,000 members and operates a multimission, interoperable fleet of more than 220 cutters, 185 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, 1,300 boats and its own dedicated cyber command to protect critical maritime infrastructure.

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