President Donald Trump on Tuesday told the West Point Black Knights football team his administration is "seriously thinking" of creating a sixth military branch called the "Space Force."

Trump invited the football team to the White House to present the players and coach with the coveted Commander-in-Chief trophy after they defeated both Air Force and Navy last season. Starting in 1972, the trophy has been awarded to the military service academy that wins the triple-threat match between the Army, Navy, and Air Force academies.

Trump told the cadets the Space Force would join the five current branches of the United States Armed Forces: the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

"We were actually thinking of a sixth, and that would be the Space Force," Trump said.

"We are getting very big in space, both militarily and for other reasons, and we are seriously thinking of the Space Force," Trump added.

The president went on to commend the future roll of the West Point football players, most of whom will be commissioned as officers in the Army upon graduation.

"You will join the greatest force for peace and justice the world has ever known. You will keep us safe. You will keep us strong. You will keep us free, and thank you for your service. And go Army … You are a special group of people and it's an honor to have you at the White House," Trump said.

As president-elect, Trump attended the 117th rivalry game between West Point and the Naval Academy, which resulted in Army snapping Navy's 14-game winning streak in the annual rivalry.

"I just love the armed forces, love the folks," Trump said while attending the game. "The spirit is so incredible. I mean, I don't know if it's necessarily the best football, but it's very good. But, boy, do they have spirit."