UPDATE: President Trump set to speak at Air Force Academy graduation

President Donald Trump is set to deliver the commencement address at the 2019 Air Force Academy graduation ceremony.

The academy and the White House confirmed the news to KRDO Thursday morning.

Earlier this month, the academy extended an invitation to Vice President Mike Pence and was waiting to learn if he would accept.

No reason was given for the change.

“I wouldn’t read much into it,” said Josh Dunn, a political science professor at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. “It might have been better for him politically to come next year, when we assume he’ll seek re-election. But this may be more of a personality thing than a political thing.”

Most people who spoke with KRDO consider the decision a pleasant surprise.

“I think it’s cool,” said David Hubert. “Let him come, let him talk. I don’t know if he’s ever been to Colorado Springs. We’ll see how it goes.”

“It’s not every day that the president comes to Colorado Springs,” said David Weatherley. “It’s good for the academy, the cadets and the people in this area.”

The graduation ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, May 30 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. at Falcon Stadium.

According to the Air Force Academy website, speakers for the ceremony rotate between the President of the United States, Vice President, Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Air Force.

But during his term, Trump has changed the normal rotation of presidential visits to service academies. He wasn’t expected to speak at the academy until next year.

President Barack Obama spoke at the 2012 and 2016 Air Force Academy graduations.

Last year, Secretary of Defense James Mattis took the stage to speak to the cadets.