Trump honors Army’s football team with Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy
By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is honoring Army’s football team at the White House and predicting the service branches of the military could have a new addition: the space force.
Trump saluted the Black Knights with the annual Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy on Tuesday, recounting their victory over Navy on a snowy day in Philadelphia. He received a white Army jersey. It’s the first Commander-in-Chief Trophy for West Point since 1996.
The president says the Trump administration is “seriously thinking” about creating a space force, part of his efforts to build up the nation’s military.
New Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a West Point graduate, attended the Rose Garden ceremony. Trump joked that Pompeo was “a man who has gotten more publicity than me lately.”
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President Donald Trump is presented with a jersey by Ahmad Bradshaw, right, and John Voit, center, during a ceremony to present the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the U.S. Military Academy football team in the Rose Garden of the White House, Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Washington. (Evan Vucci/AP)
President Barack Obama holds up a ring that was presented to him by the United States Naval Academy Football Team in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, April 27, 2016, during a ceremony to present the team with the 2015 Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds watches, front right. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
President Barack Obama holds up a football and jersey with his name on it during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, May 7, 2015, where the president honored the U.S. Air Force Academy football team with the Commander-in-Chief Trophy. Defensive Back Christian Spears, left, and quarterback Kale Pearson, left, flank the president. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Holding his new Navy football jersey, President Barack Obama stands between Navy football team co-captains Matt Aiken right, and Cody Peterson, left, for photographs during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Friday, April 18, 2014, where he awarded the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the United States Naval Academy football team. Navy finished the 2013 campaign with a 9-4 record, won the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy for the ninth time in the last 11 years. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President Barack Obama holds a Navy football team helmet in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, April 12, 2013, after presenting the Commander-in-Chief Trophy to the United States Naval Academy football team. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo watches at right. The helmet bears a "44" sticker for President Obama being the 44th president and a "Rafi" sticker as a salute to injured third-string quarterback Ralph Montalvo.. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
President Barack Obama strikes the Heisman pose after he awards the Commander-in-Chief Trophy to the Air Force Academy football team in the East Room at the White House in Washington, Monday, April 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Air Force Academy's defensive back Reggie Rembert presents President Barack Obama with a personalized jersey as head coach Troy Calhoun, right, and running back Jared Tew, top left, look on during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Monday, April 18, 2011, presenting the 2010 Commander-in-Chief Trophy to the Air Force Academy football team. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
President Barack Obama is presented with a Naval Academy football jersey by Osei Asante from Houston, Texas, as he honored the 2009 Naval Academy football team with Commander in Chief trophy,Monday, May 3, 2010, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
President Barack Obama poses with an autographed helmet given to him in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 21, 2009, during a ceremony where he presented the Commander in Chief trophy to the U.S. Naval Academy football team. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Bush poses for a photo in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Monday, April 14, 2008, with the U.S. Naval Academy football team after presenting the team with the Commander-In-Chief trophy. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Bush poses for photos as he presents the Commander-In-Chief trophy to the U.S. Naval Academy football team in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Monday, April 2, 2007. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Bush poses with members of the U.S. Naval Academy football team during a ceremony presenting the Commander in Chief trophy in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 25, 2006. Third from right is head coach Paul Johnson. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Bush, center, poses for a photograph with members of the U.S. Naval Academy football team after the presentation of the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy in Rose Garden at the White House Wednesday, April 20, 2005 in Washington. Bush hailed the Naval Academy football team for winning the commander-in-chief's trophy, the first time since 1981. The trophy goes each year to the team with the best record in games among the three service academies. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
President Bush acts like he is going to throw a football given to him by team members as he participates, Monday, April 19, 2004, in a presentation of the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the United States Naval Academy football team in the East Room of the White House. Other are indentified. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
Air Force Academy football team wide receiver Bryan Blew gives President Bush a Falcon jersey during a visit to the East Room of the White House, Friday, May 16, 2003. It is the sixth straight year the Air Force Academy, in Colorado Springs, Colo., has won the commander in chief's trophy which is awarded to the military service academy with the best record against the other two service academies. Head Football Coach Fisher DeBerry applauds at right. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
President Bush receives an Air Force football jersey from cadet Zack Johnson of Junction City, Ore., during the presentation of the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the the U.S. Air Force Academy football team in the Rose Garden, at the White House Friday, May 17, 2002. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)