President Donald Trump suggested red-state schools such as the University of Alabama should forge America’s future over the more liberal and elite Harvard University during Alabama’s commencement on Thursday.
Near the end of his address, Trump made clear he wanted the University of Alabama graduates to write the next chapter of American history over Harvard, which the administration has battled with in recent weeks over federal funding.
“Congratulations to the Alabama class of 2025, standing here before you in this magnificent arena. It is clear to see the next chapter of the American story will not be written by the Harvard Crimson. It will be written by you, the Crimson Tide,” he said. “They get their $5 billion a year. That is not going to be so forthcoming.”
Trump was introduced by legendary Alabama football coach Nick Saban, who won seven national championships as a coach and six at Alabama.
“I feel like I’m the warmup band for the Rolling Stones,” Saban mused. He later spoke about an anecdote from 2018, when his players and himself went into the Oval Office during Trump’s first term. One player had asked if Trump’s red button, which signals a Diet Coke craving, launched missiles.
The president stuck largely to a political script that included his usual rhetoric on transgender athletes playing in women’s sports, which drew heavy applause. He hit the theme later in his speech again, mentioning the Olympic boxer Imane Khelif’s victory over an Italian boxer, which drew condemnation by conservatives due to Khelif’s masculine features.
He also praised his administration’s accomplishments on reducing egg prices and curbing illegal immigration, and he blasted judges that back due process for illegal immigrants. Trump repeated his claim that the 2020 election was “rigged.”
Trump also praised the university’s winning ways. “This place is truly where legends are made. It really is. It’s a special place,” referring to the university’s winning sports tradition. “The University of Alabama has a brand, and that brand is winning,” he added later.
Trump joked that he should’ve gone to the University of Alabama because he loves sports. He also praised the state for its Republican makeup. “I love this place. Maybe it’s because I won Alabama by 45 points,” he said.
He had more than a few pieces of advice for the graduates, with one section of his speech calling on them to “break the system.”
“You have to break the system a little bit and follow your own instincts. But if your vision is right, nothing will hold you down, nothing. You have to have the right vision,” he said.
The president then added that “these internet people” who disliked him are now “kissing my ass.”
“If you look at some of these internet people, I know so many of them. Elon [Musk] is so terrific, but I know now all of them, you know, they all hated me in my first term, and now they’re kissing my ass,” he said.
The Washington Post reported that many people at the stadium were wearing Trump’s MAGA hats and women wore stickers that said “Roll Trump Roll.” The scoreboard at the stadium read “45” and “47” to mark Trump’s two nonconsecutive terms.
A counter-rally was held several miles away, where former Alabama Sen. Doug Jones and former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke spoke. Jones told the crowd they were there “not just as a protest, but as a movement.”
“You are here today because you’re concerned, you’re afraid. You understand that this country’s great democracy is teetering right now with what we’re seeing going on,” the former senator said.
O’Rourke said Trump was trying to make the students’ graduation “all about him, true to form.”
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Gov. Kay Ivey (R-AL) and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) also attended the graduation.
Trump is set to speak at West Point later this month.
