June 13, 2020 | 9:57am | Updated June 13, 2020 | 10:50am
President Trump is addressing the 2020 graduating class of West Point, the first time he has spoken to cadets of the storied US Military Academy.
The graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 is closed to all guests. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said the school was aiming for a “small, safe graduation ceremony.”
Following similar guidelines from the US Air Force Academy ceremony in April, graduating West Point cadets were seated six feet apart from each other and Trump will dispense with the customary handshake for each graduate.
The speech comes as states around the country continue to loosen pandemic lockdown restrictions that have kept millions of Americans at home and without work for months.
Questions have been raised about ensuring safety at the commencement of more than 1,100 cadets.
Mandatory testing of the 1,100 last week revealed at least 15 cadets who tested positive for COVID-19, though none have shown symptoms.
Later Saturday Trump is expected to attend a big-money campaign fundraiser at his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Vice President Pence gave the graduation address to West Point cadets last year.
