The Hartford Courant

NEW LONDON, Conn. — Amid swirling controversy, President Donald J. Trump delivered the commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Wednesday, defending his record and promising never to give up.

“You have to put your head down and fight, fight, fight,” he told the cadets. “Never, ever, ever give up. Things will work out just fine. Look at the way I’ve been treated lately — especially by the media. No politician in history — and I say this with great surety — has been treated worse or more unfairly. You can’t let them get you down.

“Adversity makes you stronger. Don’t give in and don’t back down and never stop doing what you know is right.”

Pointing to jobs, cutting environmental regulations, a new Supreme Court justice and border security, Trump said, “I’ve accomplished a tremendous amount in a very short time as president.”

During his remarks, Trump offered effusive praise for the U.S. Coast Guard’s mission of securing waterways, rescuing people and stopping smugglers and terrorists.

“It’s a very, very special place. It is truly my honor to welcome you aboard,” Trump told the crowd.

“All of us are doing a job working together,” Trump said, even welcoming Gov. Dannel Malloy — one of the president’s loudest critics.

“Starting today I hope you feel the full gratitude of your nation,” Trump told the 195 cadets of the class of 2017 sitting in front of him. “This is truly an amazing group of cadets. You chose the path of service … to save lives, defend the homeland and protect America’s interests.”

Trump also offered the graduating class some presidential advice. “You have to act and you have to act properly. You have to learn and how to respond under great pressure,” he said. “The Coast Guard is the gold standard. … You don’t run from danger, you chase it.

“In the Coast Guard you will face many challenges and many threats. When you look back you won’t doubt. You know exactly how you spent your time — saving lives.”

Trump has remained silent this week since the ouster of FBI Director James Comey and an ensuing controversy has enveloped his administration. Trump did not speak to reporters before departing Washington Monday. He did not speak to the public when he arrived at the airport in New London.

As Air Force One arrived at Groton-New London Airport at 10:30 a.m., supporters and critics of the president gathered in a New London park Wednesday morning.

About 300 Trump protesters and Trump supporters assembled in the morning sunshine at McKinley Park in New London near the entrance to the Coast Guard Academy, holding handmade signs, singing, revving motorcycles and chanting slogans.

“I support the right of the protesters, God bless ‘em. They are out here protesting. I’m out here supporting my president. We are all getting along so far,” said Laura Lovell of Centerbrook, who was among hundreds in the park.

Wendy Roth, a Niantic resident, said she came to New London to protest because Trump stands for “none of the values that the U.S. has.” Nearby a group calling themselves the “Raging Grannies” led the crowd in protest songs.

Nancy Miller, who described herself as a military spouse, said she came out because she was concerned about a president with little military and foreign policy experience.

“I am alarmed by the things he is saying about our military and the things he is suggesting to do with our military,” Miller said.

Meanwhile, near the Coast Guard Academy, Trump supporters held signs and waved flags along Route 32. About 50 people held handmade Trump signs.

Awaiting the president’s arrival at the Groton-New London Airport, Alan Ackley of Groton came out in a bright orange Trump shirt.

“He’s doing a great job,” Ackley said. “I think we’ve yet to see what he hopes to accomplish with tax reform and the health care first.”

Changing Washington “is going to be a tough job. Now what we’ve got to do is make Connecticut great again and hopefully trump can help us with that,” he said.

At the Coast Guard, families and supporters took their seats hours before the 136th annual commencement ceremony for the service academy.

Daniel Victory said that the bright sunshine and heat did not bother him because he lives in Fort Lauderdale.

Victory traveled north to New London to see the graduation of his son, Derek Joseph Victory, who majored in government and graduated with honors, according to the official program. He not only hailed the graduation of his son, but also his son’s fiancee, Savannah Mackenzie Kuntz, who majored in management.

Nearby, Laurie Bull of Virginia awaited the appearance of her daughter, Tasha Marie Bull, who graduated with honors.

“I’m very proud of my daughter,” said Bull, who grew up in Connecticut because her father served at the submarine base in Groton. “It’s a very exciting moment for our family.”

Wednesday’s speech will be the second commencement address Trump has given since he was elected. Over the weekend he spoke to graduates of Liberty University, an evangelical Christian university in Virginia, telling them to “relish the opportunity to be an outsider” and not to listen to the critics.

Ernie Bareuther and his wife Barbara Quintana came from New Jersey to see his granddaughter, Nikole Barnes, graduate.

Bareuther said today was about Nikole, but he’s also a fan of the president, and brought along a “Trump 2016” hat for the occasion. His wife wore a red “Make America Great Again” hat and brought along a copy of a Trump biography she had just finished reading.

“I’ve been a fan from way back,” Bareuther said. He hoped the president’s address would focus on supporting the military and that Trump’s budget would include funding to boost Coast Guard spending.

His granddaughter, who grew up in the U.S. Virgin Islands and won accolades for sailing at the academy, will report to Miami to begin her Coast Guard career, Bareuther said. She hopes to continue sailing and is considering trying out for the 2020 Olympics.

Robert and Karen Beasley from Voluntown said their daughter, Katherine, studied civil engineering at the academy and would be reporting to Boston next month to begin her service.

Karen Beasley said she understood some people might be unhappy that Trump was addressing the graduating cadets, but expected he’d receive a warm welcome.

“He’s POTUS, he’s their boss,” she said. Some didn’t like it when Obama addressed cadets in 2015, she added.

Suzanne Matteson of Stonington works at the academy and said she heard mostly excitement about the president’s speech, particularly that he was coming to the Coast Guard Academy for his first military academy address.

“We’re honored he came here first,” said Matteson, who was wearing a Make American Great Again hat with an American flag pattern.