Coast Guard Academy Commencement

President Donald Trump waves to the crowd as he recesses from the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises where he gave the commencement address Wednesday.

Newly commissioned Coast Guard ensigns toss their cadet hats at the conclusion of at the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday. President Donald Trump gave the commencement address.

Brianna Lauren Grisell, of Brookfield, is congratulated by President Donald Trump after he awarded her commission at the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday.

Casey Thomas Dieter-Leeds, of Willimantic, shakes hands with a faculty member after receiving his commission from President Donald Trump at the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday.

Ryan James Carpenter, (left) of Aurora, Colorado, poses for a photograph with President Donald Trump and two others after Trump gave Carpenter his commission at the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday.

Gov. Dannel Malloy shakes hands with President Trump after Trump delivered the commencement address at the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday.

NEW LONDON 05/17/17 at the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday. CLOE POISSON|cpoisson@courant.com  (Cloe Poisson / Hartford Courant)

Audrey Marie Gaynier, of Higganum, applauds her parents after President Donald Trump admonished cadets in the Class of 2017 to acknowledge them at the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday.

NEW LONDON 05/17/17 President Donald Trump delivers the commencement address at the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday. CLOE POISSON|cpoisson@courant.com  (Cloe Poisson / Hartford Courant)

NEW LONDON 05/17/17 Cadets with the Class of 2017 process onto Cadet Memorial Field at the start of the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises to receive their diplomas and commissions Wednesday. President Donald Trump was the commencement speaker. CLOE POISSON|cpoisson@courant.com  (Cloe Poisson / Hartford Courant)

NEW LONDON 05/17/17 Steven Colton Cannon (right) tosses his cadet shoulder boards at the conclusion of the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday. Cannon is from Kennesaw, George. CLOE POISSON|cpoisson@courant.com  (Cloe Poisson / Hartford Courant)

NEW LONDON 05/17/17 Earl Alexander Roberts, of Simpsonville, South Carolina, (right) hugs friend Matthew Steven McAllister, of Colchester, at the conclusion of the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday. Roberts and McAllister were on the wrestling team together at the academy. CLOE POISSON|cpoisson@courant.com  (Cloe Poisson / Hartford Courant)

NEW LONDON 05/17/17 An employee of the Coast Guard Academy hands President Donald Trump a cadet’s commission at the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday. CLOE POISSON|cpoisson@courant.com  (Cloe Poisson / Hartford Courant)

NEW LONDON 05/17/17 A flyover approaches Cadet Memorial Field at the conclusion of the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday. Security guards stand on the roof of a building overlooking the field. CLOE POISSON|cpoisson@courant.com  (Cloe Poisson / Hartford Courant)

NEW LONDON 05/17/17 President Donald Trump leans in as he listens to John Kelly, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security at the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday. Trump gave the commencement at the event. CLOE POISSON|cpoisson@courant.com  (Cloe Poisson / Hartford Courant)

President Donald Trump acknowledges applause as he gives the commencement address at the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday.

Family and friends stand as the National Anthem is played by the Coast Guard Band at the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday.

President Donald Trump salutes the cadets and the crowd as he takes the stage to give the commencement address at the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday.

President Donald Trump waves to the crowd as he approaches the stage at the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday. Trump delivered the commencement address to the 195 graduating cadets.

President Donald Trump salutes cadets standing at attention as he approaches the stage at the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday. Trump delivered the commencement address to the 195 graduating cadets.

Blake Matthew Ward (left) gives the thumbs up as he poses for a photograph with President Donald Trump and his sister Alexa Ward (right) at the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday. Trump gave the commencement address and awarded commissions to the newly minted officers.

Taylor Alexis Wright, of Memphis, Tennessee, gets a hug from her father, Isaac Wright, as President Donald Trump looks on at the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday. Trump presented the new Coast Guard officers with their commissions after delivering the commencement address.

Ruth Angelica Tress Salvatori gets a hug from her father after she was commissioned at the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday.

Brendan Ryan Sullivan, of Gales Ferry, (left) points to President Donald Trump while posing for a photograph after Trump awarded Sullivan his commission at the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday.

Brendan Ryan Sullivan, of Gales Ferry, chats with President Donald Trump after Trump awarded him his commission at the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday.

President Donald Trump departs on Air Force One as it takes off from the Groton-New London Airport on Wednesday afternoon following the U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduation in New London.

U.S. Secret Service snipers set up along the control tower at Groton-New London Airport on Wednesday morning in anticipation of President Trump’s arrival on Air Force One.

President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One to Groton-New London Airport on Wednesday at about 10:30am. President Trump is speaking at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduation in New London.

President Donald Trump sits in the rear seat of the presidential limosine after arriving on Air Force One to Groton-New London Airport on Wednesday morning. President Trump is speaking at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduation in New London.

President Donald Trump greets about two dozen supporters as he arrives on Air Force One to Groton-New London Airport on Wednesday morning at about 10:30am. President Trump is speaking at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduation in New London.

President Donald Trump greets supporters as he arrives aboard Air Force One to Groton-New London Airport on Wednesday morning. President Trump is speaking at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduation in New London.

President Donald Trump greets supporters as he arrives on Air Force One to Groton-New London Airport on Wednesday morning. President Trump is speaking at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduation in New London.

Paul and Betty Maugle, of Ledyard, check their phones while waiting for the start of the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday. Avid Trump supporters, they came to hear the president give the commencement address. They were not attending to watch a friend or family member graduate and got tickets through a friend whose son-in-law works at the academy. “We support the president 100 percent,” Betty Mangle said.

Sam Everett, of Stillwater, Ohio, takes pictures of the ensign hats and shoulder boards before the start of the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday. Everett attended the academy for two years, but did not graduate. She came to support several friends who were graduating. “I’m here to take pictures for my friends,” she said. “I’m a hobby photographer.” At the end of the ceremonies, the newly commissioned officers will receive their ensign “covers” and shoulder boards, typically pinned on by their parents.

Jean Lavin of Canterbury holds “Drain the Swamp” sign to passing cars while President Donald J. Trump delivered the keynote address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement in New London on Wednesday.

Trump protesters and Trump supporters gathered McKinley park on Wednesday while President Donald J. Trump delivered the keynote address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement in New London.

New London 05/17/2017 Trump protesters organized by the Unify and Resist Coalition walk from the Soldiers and Sailors on State Street in downtown New London to McKinley Park to protest the president who is giving the keynote address at U.S. Coast Guard Academy on Wednesday. LAUREN SCHNEIDERMAN | lschneiderman@courant.com   (Lauren Schneiderman / Hartford Courant)

New London 05/17/2017 Steve Shafer of New Britain antagonizes members of the group Bikers for Trump who stationed themselves with their bikes across the street from McKinley Park in New London, before the presidents commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy on Wednesday. LAUREN SCHNEIDERMAN | lschneiderman@courant.com   (Lauren Schneiderman / Hartford Courant)

New London 05/17/2017 Steve Shafer of New Britain came to McKinley park to offend people on both sides. “All of these people say they are pro freedom of speech and pro liberty, but the second we come over they say shut [...] up” Shafer said. Shafer antagonizes members of the group Bikers for Trump, while President Donald J. Trump delivered the keynote address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement in New London on Wednesday. LAUREN SCHNEIDERMAN | lschneiderman@courant.com   (Lauren Schneiderman / Hartford Courant)

New London 05/17/2017 Trump protesters and Trump supporters gathered McKinley park on Wednesday while President Donald J. Trump delivered the keynote address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement in New London. LAUREN SCHNEIDERMAN | lschneiderman@courant.com   (Lauren Schneiderman / Hartford Courant)

New London 05/17/2017 A Trump supporter uses a megaphone to talk to the crowd of supporters and protesters in McKinley Park in New London on Wednesday. LAUREN SCHNEIDERMAN | lschneiderman@courant.com   (Lauren Schneiderman / Hartford Courant)

New London 05/17/2017 Trump protester and supporters gather in McKinley Park in response to President Donald J. Trump’s keynote address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement in New London on Wednesday. LAUREN SCHNEIDERMAN | lschneiderman@courant.com   (Lauren Schneiderman / Hartford Courant)

New London 05/17/2017 Marta Daniels of Chester walks her dog Rosa, named after Rosa Parks to the Donald Trump Protest in McKinley Park on Wednesday in New London. LAUREN SCHNEIDERMAN | lschneiderman@courant.com   (Lauren Schneiderman / Hartford Courant)

New London 05/17/2017 Paul Rubin of New London, one of the Unify and Resist organizers of the protest, chants in McKinely Park while President Donald J. Trump delivered his keynote address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement in New London on Wednesday. LAUREN SCHNEIDERMAN | lschneiderman@courant.com   (Lauren Schneiderman / Hartford Courant)

New London 05/17/2017 Christian Vazquez, Heather Hammons and Aimee Spicer (left to right) chant at the Trump Protest in McKinley Park on Wednesday. The protest was in response to Trump speaking at U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement in New London. “I feel so far with Donald Trump being president things are not going well and I feel like he needs to improve and listen to the people,” Hammons said. LAUREN SCHNEIDERMAN | lschneiderman@courant.com   (Lauren Schneiderman / Hartford Courant)

New London 05/17/2017 Trump protestor Susan O’Lone of Norwich debates numerous topics with Trump supporter Brian Pryor of East Hartford including climate change, Russia and the firing of FBI Director James Comey in McKinley Park while President Donald J. Trump delivered the keynote address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement in New London on Wednesday. LAUREN SCHNEIDERMAN | lschneiderman@courant.com   (Lauren Schneiderman / Hartford Courant)

Kimberly Buxton, of Forked River, New Jersey, suns herself while holding an American flag before the start of the United States Coast Guard Academy’s 136th commencement exercises Wednesday. Buxton’s best friend’s daughter, Maggie Rice, is in the graduating class, but Buxton also wanted to hear President Trump deliver the commencement address. “I support him 100 percent,” she said.

Wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, Barbara Quinlan of New Jersey photographs the cover and ensign shoulders of her granddaughter Nikole Barnes before her graduation from the Coast Guard Academy.