Critics have assailed Trump for abruptly dismissing Comey, who was leading the agency's investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US election, and possible ties between Moscow and the Trump presidential campaign.
Trump added, "Here I am, standing before you as president of the United States", he said. Because in America, we don't worship government, we worship God.
While Trump's roughly thirty minute speech Saturday largely steered clear of politics, it did touch on some of the same big ideas of his campaign.
"There's no place in the world that I'd rather be to give my first commencement address as president than here with my wonderful friends at Liberty University", Trump said.
"I've seen so many people, they're forced through lots of reasons - sometimes including family - to go down a path that they don't want to go down, to go down a path that leads then to something that they don't love, that they don't enjoy", Trump said.
Liberty is a Christian university founded in 1971 by pastor and conservative activist Jerry Falwell.
He also encouraged the students to challenge the status quo.
"As long as I'm your president", Trump promised to loud applause, "no one is ever going to stop you from practicing your faith or preaching what's in your heart.""But the future belongs to the dreamers, not to the critics". Falwell, Jr., praised Trump's first few months in office, pointing to Trump's selection of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, his decision to stack his Cabinet with religious conservatives and what Falwell described as bombing "those in the Middle East who are persecuting and killing Christians".
Cyber attack: Some ATMs remained shut on precautionary ground
When a device is infected, the software encrypts all files on the computer, stopping users from being able to open them. Security experts advised victims not to cough up the ransom, and Mr Op Gen Oorth said that, so far, relatively few had.
"Because it's the outsiders who change the world", Trump said.
When it comes to core values and moral virtues, Trump incited the Christian students to never make compromises and stoop to the standards set by the government - indicating that God's precepts for their lives should never be substituted for those pushed by wayward elected officials.
Trump took to Twitter on Friday to blast critics, threatening to leak "tapes" of his conversations with Comey and suggesting he may cancel future White House press briefings in retaliation over days of mixed messages emerging over his decision to dismiss the Federal Bureau of Investigation director.
University spokesman Paul Browne declined to say whether Trump had been invited to the May 21 ceremony, saying it was against school policy to reveal who had turned down offers. "I know each of you will do what is right - not the easy way".
"We are Liberty students who are disappointed with President Falwell's endorsement and are exhausted of being associated with one of the worst presidential candidates in American history", the group's statement read.
Rogers was endorsed by the FBI Agents Association, which said his diverse background makes him the best choice for the job. The White House dispatched Vice President Mike Pence to the Notre Dame commencement Saturday.
President Donald Trump boards Air Force One during his departure from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Saturday, May 13, 2017.
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