Trump heads to Liberty for first commencement speech as president

by Alicia Cohn - 05/13/17 8:12 AM ET

President Trump will deliver the commencement speech to America’s largest Christian college on Saturday morning.

This is Trump’s third visit to Liberty University but first as sitting president.

{mosads}“He is greatly looking forward to visiting with Liberty students and faculty who gave him such a warm welcome last year,” White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said on Friday. “He can be expected to note to the graduates his own change in status since they were last together.”

Liberty’s President Jerry Falwell Jr., son of conservative activist Jerry Falwell, endorsed Trump’s run for the presidency early in 2016.

“I think evangelicals have found their dream president,” Falwell told Fox News last month.

Evangelicals were one of Trump’s biggest groups of supporters in the 2016 presidential election.

“I’ve been working with his speech writers and I think he’s going to deliver a wonderful speech that will be personal to Liberty,” Falwell told WDBJ7, a CBS television affiliate in Roanoke, Va. Liberty University is located in Lynchburg.

Trump previewed his speech in the weekly White House address released Friday.

“I will be bringing a message of hope and optimism about our nation’s bright future,” he said. “Our economic progress is especially good news for the millions of young Americans who, at this time of the year, are putting on a cap and gown and receiving a diploma certificate.”

Trump is scheduled to deliver the speech starting at 10 a.m.

Tags Donald Trump Jerry Falwell Liberty University