How Did President Trump Do At His First Service Academy Commencement?

Ah, service academy graduation! That wonderful springtime rite in which plebes become plebes no more, firsties drunkenly don cadet dress...

By Adam Weinstein | Published May 17, 2017 5:10 PM EDT

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Ah, service academy graduation! That wonderful springtime rite in which plebes become plebes no more, firsties drunkenly don cadet dress uniforms for the last time, and some old dignitary gives them a brief, rousing pep talk about the sacred duties they're about to undertake. Some grads get a secretary of defense or a vice president; some get the big cheese himself, the president of the United States, to tell them what a great thing they've done with their four years, and how much the uniformed forces will appreciate their commissioned service.

President Donald Trump gave his very first commencement address May 17, to the cadets of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. How'd he do? What was his message of honor and duty for these self-sacrificing ensigns-to-be? Let's check in with the veterans and reporters of Twitter:

Pres. Trump at Coast Guard commencement: "I've accomplished a tremendous amount in a very short time as president." https://t.co/PwZRb5SRcB pic.twitter.com/eJovIlO1Ut

— Evan McMurry (@evanmcmurry) May 17, 2017

"Something's happening all the time with the United States Coast Guard."

— Duncan35 (@timesifeelMEGA) May 17, 2017

https://twitter.com/MicahGrimes/status/864872432552869888

Trump telling CG cadets that he won't even say how much he's saving them on F-35, Ford carriers. Note that Coast Guard operates neither

— Jacqueline Feldscher (@jacqklimas) May 17, 2017

https://twitter.com/KToropin/status/864874239886843904 https://twitter.com/forbesmm/status/864875557686833152

Trump tells Coast Guard graduates that the media has been unfair to him

— Michael Tackett (@tackettdc) May 17, 2017

After several minutes of talking about Coast Guard, Trump turns to himself: "Look at the way I've been treated lately."

— Rebecca Ballhaus (@rebeccaballhaus) May 17, 2017

https://twitter.com/TomNamako/status/864876006498349056

This is what President Trump told U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduates in a commencement address pic.twitter.com/HDHnmi0Ufs

— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) May 17, 2017

https://twitter.com/AlexHortonTX/status/864877492791910400

Trump — speaking to Coast Guard cadets proud of their own accomplishments — is now running through his own.

— Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) May 17, 2017

https://twitter.com/forbesmm/status/864876452625489920 https://twitter.com/rebleber/status/864876751293427713 https://twitter.com/forbesmm/status/864876869346369536 https://twitter.com/bendreyfuss/status/864875582009507845

Trump: "Things happen to you that you do not deserve and are not always warranted. But you have to put your head down and fight fight fight"

— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) May 17, 2017

even a service academy commencement speech becomes a vehicle for his grudges, victimhood and vanity. He is our disgrace.

— Mark Salter (@MarkSalter55) May 17, 2017

Trump at USCG commencement making it about him: "The people understand what I'm doing.."

— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) May 17, 2017

Curious how Coast Guard grads, many of whom will actually be called on to risk their lives, took this message. https://t.co/NYmcT4FTGu

— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) May 17, 2017