President Biden is set to deliver the commencement speech at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, this Saturday, amidst ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. The speech, which will be delivered before some 1,000 U.S. Army cadets, is part of Biden’s efforts to highlight the administration’s support for active and retired military personnel.
One of the key initiatives Biden will likely touch upon is a bipartisan law he signed two years ago to help veterans exposed to burn pits or other poisons obtain easier access to healthcare. This speech comes ahead of Memorial Day services at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Monday, where Biden will pay tribute to fallen soldiers.
Following the commencement speech, Biden will travel to Normandy, France, to participate in ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. He is expected to deliver a major speech on the heroism of Allied forces in World War Two and the current threats to democracy.
While protests have erupted on college campuses over Biden’s support for Israel’s actions against Hamas, the military academy is unlikely to see such demonstrations. Founded in 1802 by President Thomas Jefferson, West Point has a long history of training Army officers and has produced some of the nation’s greatest generals.
As Biden addresses the cadets, it will mark the first time he does so as president, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Donald Trump, who spoke at the West Point commencement in 2020. With tensions high both domestically and internationally, Biden’s speech is sure to be closely watched for his stance on military issues and global conflicts.