WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has complained that no other politician in the history was treated more unfairly, probably referring to the negative news coverage beginning with his sudden decision to fire FBI Director James Comey.

He was addressing the graduation ceremony of the newest group of U.S. Coast Guard officers on Wednesday.

Trump, while being motivational to 195 graduates in the Class of 2017, said that “put your head down and fight, fight, fight” when life presents you with challenges and adversity.

Trump’s appearance at the academy came the day after reports that he had personally appealed to Comey to abandon the FBI’s investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

Trump did not mention Comey during the nearly half-hour address, but seemed to allude to the multiple controversies swirling around him.

“Look at the way I’ve been treated lately, especially by the media,” Trump said. “No politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly. You can’t let them get you down. You can’t let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams.”

“I guess that’s why we won,” he said, before continuing to offer the graduates his advice.

“Adversity makes you stronger. Don’t give in, don’t back down and never stop doing what you know is right,” Trump said. “Nothing worth doing ever, ever, ever came easy and the more righteous your fight, the more opposition that you will face.”