Trump delivers first commencement speech, says Americans worship God, not the Government

President Donald Trump said, during his Liberty University commencement speech that one or two of the future U.S. presidents might be among the graduates. Trump also said people should expect news on the fight against terrorism in the next week.

“It’s been little over a year since I’ve spoken on your beautiful campus and so much has changed. Right here, the class of 2017, graduating to a totally brilliant future. And here I am, standing before you as President of the Unitede States. So I’m guessing there are some people here today that thought that either one of those things, either one, would really require major help from God. And we got it,” Trump said in the beginning of his commencement speech.

“There may be a president or two in our midst. […] America has always been the nation of dreams. […] In America we don’t worship Government, we worship God. […] The more a broken system tells you you’re wrong the more you must push forward. Always have the courage to be yourself. I’ve seen so many people forced to go down a path they don’t want to go on. […] As long as I am your president no one will stop you from practicing your faith or preaching what’s in your heart,” Trump said in his speech.

He also reminded graduates of George Rogers, who while serving in the Philippines during WWII, George Rogers was taken prisoner by the Japanese along with thousands of American and Philippine troops. He was sent to a POW camp and was one of the very few survivors, being awarded the Purple Heart and Prisoner of War Medal in 2012.

Trump said Rogers “defended civilization against a tide of barbarity, the kind of barbarity we’re seeing today and we have been witnessing for the last number of years.”

“I just want to tell you as your president, we are doing very very well in countering it. You just hang in there, things are going along very very well. You’ll be hearing a lot about it next week from our generals,” Trump added.

This was Donald Trump’s first commencement speech as President of the United States. Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr. invited Trump to town for graduation back in December. He recently said “evangelicals have found their dream President.” Liberty University is the nation’s largest Christian college. According to Falwell Jr., about 50,000 people attended the ceremony.

In a break from tradition, Notre Dame University did not host a sitting president as its commencement speaker this spring. The Indiana university recently announced that Vice President Mike Pence, and not President Donald Trump, would be principal speaker for the May 21 address.