WEST POINT, NY – President Joe Biden told U.S. Military Academy graduates Saturday that his class is being called to confront threats around the world and preserve the country’s ideals at home “like never before.”
Biden said the phrase, the class motto, is well suited to the types of challenges they will face as newly minted Army second lieutenants, from supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion to facilitating humanitarian assistance to Gaza. and the defense of Israel from attacks by Iran.
“There has never been a time in history when we have asked our military to do so many different things in so many different places around the world, all at the same time,” Biden said.
Speaking at sunny West Point, Biden reaffirmed that he will not allow American military personnel on the battlefield in Ukraine, but said his work to equip and train Ukrainian forces has “intensified and impeded” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “brazen vision” for Europe. Biden praised U.S. forces for helping Israel repel a massive drone and ballistic missile attack last month from Iran and for working to de-escalate the conflict.
Speaking before the graduating cadets took the oath of commission, Biden reminded them that they were pledging allegiance not to a person or political party, but to the Constitution. As other speakers alluded to partisan rancor and political division across the country, Biden said, “Stand firm on the values you learned here at West Point.”
“Ideas need champions to make them real,” Biden said. You must keep us free at this time as never before.”
Biden highlighted that rates of sexual assault and harassment in the military declined for the first time last year in a decade, calling it “long overdue” but said even more work is needed.
The president stayed for more than an hour, returning a greeting and shaking hands with each graduate. Biden, as is customary, also absolved the cadets of minor offenses committed during their time at the academy, adding, laughing, “the superintendent can clarify what minor means.”
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