President Joe Biden on Saturday told graduates of the U.S. Military Academy that their class is being called upon to tackle threats across the globe and preserve the country’s ideals at home “like none before.”
Quick Read
- Biden’s message to West Point graduates: You’re being asked to tackle threats ‘like none before’
- Global Challenges: President Joe Biden addressed the U.S. Military Academy graduates, emphasizing the unprecedented nature of the threats they will face, including supporting Ukraine, facilitating aid to Gaza, and defending Israel.
- Military Demands: Biden highlighted the diverse and simultaneous global responsibilities the military now holds, noting it as a unique historical moment.
- Ukraine and Russia: He reiterated the U.S. stance against deploying troops in Ukraine while praising the graduates for their role in training and equipping Ukrainian forces to counter Russian aggression.
- Middle East Tensions: Biden commended U.S. efforts in assisting Israel against attacks from Iran and emphasized the ongoing role in deescalating regional conflicts.
- Constitutional Fidelity: He reminded the graduates of their oath to the Constitution, urging them to uphold the values learned at West Point amid national political divisions.
- Sexual Assault Progress: Biden noted a decline in military sexual assault and harassment rates for the first time in a decade, acknowledging progress but stressing the need for continued efforts.
- Graduation Ceremony: The president participated in traditional graduation customs, including shaking hands with each graduate and absolving cadets of minor offenses.
The Associated Press has the story:
Biden’s message to W. Point graduates: You’re being asked to tackle threats ‘like none before’
Newslooks- WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) —
President Joe Biden on Saturday told graduates of the U.S. Military Academy that their class is being called upon to tackle threats across the globe and preserve the country’s ideals at home “like none before.”
Biden said the phrase, the class motto, was apt for the sorts of challenges they will take as newly minted Army second lieutenants, from supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion to facilitating humanitarian assistance into Gaza and defending Israel from attacks by Iran.
“There’s never been a time in history when we’ve asked our military to do so many different things in some many different places around the world, all at the same time,” Biden said.
Speaking at sun-swept West Point, Biden reaffirmed that he will not allow American service members on the battlefield in Ukraine, but said their work to equip and train Ukrainian forces has “stepped up and stopped” 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 working to deescalate the conflict.
Speaking before the graduating cadets took the their commissioning oaths, Biden reminded them that they were swearing fidelity not to a person or political party, but to the Constitution. As other speakers alluded to partisan rancor and political division across the nation, Biden said, “Hold fast to your values that you learned here at West Point.”
“Ideas need defenders to make them real,” Biden said. “That’s what you are all about. You must keep us free at this time like none 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 past time,” but said even more work was necessary.
The president stood for more than an hour returning a salute from and shaking the hands of each graduate. Biden, as is customary, also absolved cadets of minor offenses committed during their time at the academy, adding with a laugh, “the superintendent can clarify what minor means.”
