Trump to deliver Coast Guard Academy speech in New London

President Donald Trump was scheduled to deliver the coast guard academy commencement speech in New London on Wednesday morning. The ceremony was set for 11 a.m., with Air Force One due shortly before it and a motorcade expected to carry him to campus.

New London and Groton

The visit changed travel in both cities. Groton police said Poquonnock Road, Rainville Avenue, and Clarence B Sharp Highway would be affected, while a dozen roads were blocked off in New London and no-parking signs went up throughout the city.

Police presence was heightened across the area. That created a tighter perimeter around the academy at the same time drivers were dealing with blocked streets and posted restrictions.

Passero on Trump's visit

New London Mayor Michael Passero described the presidential visit as unusual for the city. He said, “It’s special on the year the president comes,” as the academy prepared for a commencement that drew added security and road closures.

The visit also marked Trump’s first trip to Connecticut since his re-election. He had previously delivered the Coast Guard Academy commencement speech in 2017, and the last president to give the keynote address there was Joe Biden in 2021.

Coast Guard Academy timing

The immediate schedule centered on the Wednesday morning ceremony. For people traveling near the academy, the practical changes were already on the ground: blocked roads, posted no-parking signs, and a police-heavy security setup around New London and Groton.