Trump said that Americans do not need a lecture from Washington on how to lead their lives.
Trump spoke at Liberty University in January 2016, drawing some laughs when he referred to one of the Bible's books as "Two Corinthians" instead of the more common "Second Corinthians".
Trump couldn't keep it together long enough to get through the commencement address at Liberty University without ranting about his critics.
In his speech, Trump encouraged the graduates to stand by their Christian beliefs and values as they step into the world outside the confines of their university.
"Relish the opportunity to be an outsider", he added.
It was the third time Trump has appeared at Liberty, founded by the late televangelist Jerry Falwell, who was best known for his anti-gay bigotry and for launching the so-called "Moral Majority" movement.
He says outsiders "change the world and make a real and lasting difference". He continued, "The more that a broken system tells you you're wrong", the more you should continue pushing onward.
But while the president's speech was greeted with applause Saturday, not all Liberty University students were keen to have Trump as their commencement speaker.
"Be totally unafraid to challenge entrenched interests and failed power structures", he said. He then asked, "Does that sound familiar, by the way?"
He also engaged in more traditional commencement rhetoric, congratulating the graduates on their accomplishments and lauding the school's academic credentials and football program.
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Trump's relationship with Liberty's student body has been rocky, however.
"Nothing worth doing ever, ever, ever came easy", Trump told the crowd.
"America is a nation of true believers", Trump proclaimed, as quoted by the Washington Times - implying that he will not allow the government under his watch to deny Americans the right to express their faith ... whether at school, in the public square or at work.
In his first commencement speech as commander-in-chief, Trump imparted a wide range of advice to the outgoing students at the evangelical Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia.
"America is better when people put their faith into action", Trump said. He's trying - if people give him a chance, you know.
He said in an aside: "I think I did".
Trump also paid tribute to the school's growing athletic program, particularly its football team, which beginning in 2018 will play at the FBS level, the highest in college football. George H.W. Bush was the first.
The administration struggled this week to explain the circumstances surrounding Comey's ouster, with Trump on Thursday undercutting the message from senior White House officials that his decision to fire the Federal Bureau of Investigation chief was dependent on a Justice Department recommendation.
He found few critics at Liberty University. He said he's frustrated that the media is so obsessed with Comey's firing, which he agrees with, and the investigation into ties between Trump's campaign and Russian Federation.
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