Hours after The New York Times’ bombshell report that Donald Trump pressured FBI Director James Comey to end his investigation of Michael Flynn, the president complained in a commencement speech today that no politician in history has ever been treated so unfairly.
President Trump delivered the commencement speech at the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut on Wednesday morning. Trump made no reference to recent events until the very end of his speech, when he told the graduates that things will happen to them in life that they do not deserve.
“Over the course of your life, you will find that things are not always fair,” Trump said. “You will find that things happen to you that you do not deserve and that are not always warranted. But you have to put your head down and fight, fight, fight. Look at the way I’ve been treated lately, especially by the media.”
Trump went on to say that coverage of him has been unfair, more so than with any previous president or politician.
“No politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly,” Trump said.
However, Trump recommended that the graduates not let these critics get them down.
“You can’t let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams,” Trump said. “I guess that’s why I won.”
Trump concluded this section of the speech by telling the graduates that adversity makes them stronger.
“Don’t give in,” he said. “Don’t back down. And never stop doing what you know is right. Nothing worth doing ever, ever, ever came easy, and the more righteous your fight, the more opposition that you will face.”
The president then touted his own accomplishments, saying that jobs are pouring back into the country, that he has saved the second amendment, and that he has a large tax cut on the way.
“I didn’t get elected to serve the Washington media or special interests,” Trump said.