US cadets graduate amid anti-Trump protest

Hundreds of protesters staged a demonstration against US President Donald Trump at West Point on Saturday as America's newest officers graduated from the military academy.

The protesters held placards and chanted slogans against Trump who attended the graduation ceremony on Saturday.

In an address, Trump highlighted the diversity of West Point's graduating class and appealed for the graduates to uphold the country's core values.

His speech emphasized unity at a time when the commander in chief's relationship with military leaders has become strained and questions have arisen about the role of soldiers in a civil society.

Trump also told them that under his administration, American soldiers will no longer be responsible for rebuilding foreign nations.

The president's commencement speech came as arguments rage over his threat to use American troops on US soil to quell protests stemming from the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.