Trump to Cadets: When Life Isn’t Fair, ‘Put Your Head Down and Fight’

President Donald Trump told cadets not to “let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams” during a speech at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s commencement ceremony Wednesday in New London, Connecticut.

Trump was defiant and particularly critical of the media in the face of a fresh wave of controversy.

“I didn’t get elected to serve the Washington media or special interests. I got elected to serve the forgotten men and women of our country. And that’s what I’m doing.”

“Look at the way I’ve been treated lately, especially by the media,” Trump told the cadets. “No politician in history — and I say this with great surety — has been treated worse or more unfairly. You can’t let them get you down. You can’t let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams.”

The line was met with applause and cheers from the assembled cadets.

“Over the course of your life, you will find that things are not always fair. You will find that things happen to you that you do not deserve and that are not always warranted,” Trump said. “But you have to put your head down and fight, fight, fight. Never ever, ever give up. Things will work out just fine.”

Reminding the cadets that “adversity makes you stronger,” Trump urged them to never “give in” and never “back down” by ceasing to do “what you know is right.”

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“Nothing worth doing ever, ever, ever came easy. And the more righteous your fight, the more opposition that you will face,” Trump noted. “I have accomplished a tremendous amount in a very short time as president.”

The president said jobs are pouring back into the country, and that Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch is sitting on the bench and is “going to be fantastic for 45 years.” The president trumpeted his “historic investment in our military” and the 70 percent decrease in illegal border crossings under his watch.

“We’ve saved the Second Amendment, expanded service for our veterans — we are going to take care of our veterans like they’ve never been taken care of before,” Trump continued. “I’ve loosened up the strangling environmental chains wrapped around our country and our economy — chains so tight that you couldn’t do anything, that jobs were going down. We were losing business.”

Noting that both the border wall and major tax cuts and reform were still in the works, Trump promised that “we’re also getting closer and closer day by day to great health care for our citizens. And we are setting the stage right now for many, many more things to come.”

“And the people understand what I’m doing, and that’s the most important thing,” Trump added. “I didn’t get elected to serve the Washington media or special interests. I got elected to serve the forgotten men and women of our country. And that’s what I’m doing.”

The president’s receptive audience greeted those words will more loud cheers and applause.

“I will never stop fighting for you, and I will never stop fighting for the American people,” Trump promised.

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Trump noted that as the cadets embark on their “exciting new voyage,” he himself will be undertaking a “crucial journey” during the next few days as he takes his first overseas trip as president to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Italy.

“In a few days I will make my first trip abroad as president with the safety, security and interests of the American people as my priority,” Trump said. “And everywhere I go I will carry the inspiration I take from you each day, from your courage and determination to do whatever is required to save and protect American lives.”

The president thanked the Coast Guard cadets for their service and their willingness to sacrifice themselves for their country.

“This is truly an amazing group of cadets that are here today for commission. You could have gone to school anywhere you wanted and with very, very few responsibilities by comparison,” Trump said. “Instead, you chose the path of service. You chose hard work, high standards and a very noble mission to save lives, defend the homeland and protect America’s interests around the world.”

“The Coast Guard stands watch at our ports, patrols our waterways and protects our infrastructure. You defend America in a world of massive and very grave threats,” Trump continued. “And [Secretary of Homeland Security] John [Kelly] and all of his folks are also doing an incredible job protecting our homeland and our border, and I’m thrilled that my first address to the service academy is the graduation ceremony of the United States Coast Guard. Believe me, it’s a great honor.”