President Donald Trump will address approximately 1,100 graduates who have gathered at the US Military Academy at West Point, New York, for annual commencement exercises Saturday morning -- but the graduation will look very different from those in years past.
The students were coronavirus-tested and separated into groups of 250 to live, work and eat together for a two-week quarantine leading up to the graduation address. They will be socially distanced 6 feet from one another across the Plain Parade Field instead of at Michie Stadium, the traditional location for the graduation. Family and friends will not be allowed to attend the ceremony, but can watch it online.
In an interview Friday, Lt. Col. Chris Ophardt told CNN that West Point has made every effort to keep Saturday's commencement ceremony "as close to normal as possible."
"Instead of being handed the diploma, they will render a salute from a small stage that's about 15 feet in front of where the President will be standing," Ophardt said. "So when their name gets read, instead of getting handed a diploma ... they'll step forward and they'll salute President; President and Lt. Gen. Williams will salute back, and then they'll leave the stage, and that will be their recognition."
Trump surprised many by announcing in April that he would speak at the ceremony despite the pandemic. Vice President Mike Pence spoke during the Air Force commencement ceremony in April.
The President said at the time that he was looking forward to the event, adding that though he doesn't like "the look" of a socially distanced crowd, "eventually, next year, they'll have a commencement like it's been ... nice and tight."
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