Trump slams media, critics at Coast Guard Academy commencement
Following a chaotic two days for the White House, President Trump stepped away from Washington to deliver the commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut on Wednesday.
And while Trump called it a "great honor" to address the cadets, he did not shy away from hitting critics and the "Washington media" at the graduation ceremony.
"Over the course of your life, you will find things are not always fair, you will find things happen to you that you do not deserve and not always warranted but you have to put your head down and fight fight fight," said Mr. Trump.
"Look at the way I've been treated lately. Especially by the media, no politician in history has been treated worse or more unfairly, you can't let them get you down, you can't let the critics and naysayers get in the way of your dreams," said Mr. Trump, adding, "I guess that's why we won!"
"I didn't get elected to serve the Washignton media or special interests -- I got elected to serve the forgotten men and women of our country and that's what I'm doing."
This was Mr. Trump's first official appearance since the new reports that fired FBI Director James Comey was pressured by the president to end the investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, according to a memo written by Comey himself.
The memo, first reported by the New York Times, was part of a paper trail Comey used to document "the president's improper efforts to influence an ongoing investigation," reporter Michael Schmidt wrote. A source familiar with the matter told CBS News that Comey wrote the memos because "Comey is a careful lawyer."
Mr. Trump's speech also comes just days after reports confirmed by CBS News revealed that he divulged classified information to Russian officials during a White House Meeting.
In the speech, Mr. Trump told cadets that "adversity makes you stronger, don't give in, don't back down and never stop doing what you know is right."
He then went on to list his various accomplishments he's made in a "very short time as president," including the appointment of Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, providing "historic investments" in the defense budget and his plans to work on "major tax cuts for all."
"We are setting the stage right now for many, many things to come and the people understand what I'm doing and that's the most important thing."
