President Biden’s address comes at a moment of military upheaval abroad, university protests at home and a looming White House rematch with former President Donald J. Trump.
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Cadets during the graduation ceremony at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., in 2020. The commencement address that year by President Donald J. Trump drew criticism even from within the ranks of the academy.
President Biden will address the graduating class of cadets at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, on Saturday, delivering a commencement speech at a moment of military upheaval abroad, university protests at home and a looming White House rematch with former President Donald J. Trump.
Mr. Biden is expected to congratulate the Army’s newest officers, describe the global challenges facing the military and remind the cadets of the oath they took — not to the president, but to the Constitution, according to a person familiar with the speech who asked for anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss it.
Aides said Mr. Biden was hoping to use the moment to draw a sharp contrast with Mr. Trump, who delivered the commencement address at West Point in 2020 and drew criticism even from some within the ranks of the academy for what they said was Mr. Trump’s desire for personal loyalty from the people around him.
Saturday morning’s speech will mark the third time that Mr. Biden has been West Point’s commencement speaker, after appearing twice as vice president. During his first three years as president, he spoke at the Coast Guard, Navy and Air Force graduations.
The president’s return to the Army’s elite educational institution will provide him with a collegiate backdrop far from the student protests over his handling of the war in Israel. Polls show deep concern about the president among young people, fueling questions about his re-election chances in the fall.
At West Point, which is an hour north of New York City, he will address about 1,000 sharply dressed cadets, each in their signature gray uniform and white gloves, in Michie Stadium.
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Source: nytimes.com
