Caine — not Trump — to address Naval Academy commencement in break from tradition

Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will give the commencement address at the Naval Academy on Friday instead of President Donald Trump, who spoke at the Coast Guard Academy graduation ceremony earlier this week.

Traditionally, the Naval Academy informally cycles through four speakers in rotation — the Navy secretary, the secretary of war, the vice president, and the president. Trump was in line to speak at the graduation following Vice President JD Vance, who spoke at last year’s commencement. Former President Joe Biden spoke at the Naval Academy in 2022.

“Speaker participation at U.S. service academy graduation and commissioning ceremonies has traditionally included senior national leaders such as the United States President, Vice President, Secretary of War, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” said Ashley Hockycko, public affairs officer at the academy, in a statement, according to the Baltimore Banner.