UA graduates take in the opportunity to hear a sitting president speak

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Despite being introduced by beloved former University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban, President Donald Trump received the loudest welcome of the night when he took the stage at Coleman Coliseum on the university campus Thursday night. He spoke at a special ceremony ahead of the UA commencement ceremonies. 

“I can say at some point in time that I got to see the president in real life and at my graduation,” graduate Lexi Morrell said.

“I think it’s exciting no matter who the president is,” Maddie Cowan added.

Accounting major Tucker Ross said he and his classmates were looking forward to hear a sitting president speak at their school. 

“I was pretty excited when I heard,” Ross said. “I think we all were.”

“Obviously seeing the president is a very rare occasion,” communicative disorders major Gabriella Neves said. “It’s a part of history, regardless of where you stand politically.”

“Whether anyone likes either side, I think it’s really important and a huge deal that the president is speaking here and I wouldn’t want to miss it,” marketing and management double major Sydney Lepai said. “I think it’s awesome and we’re really honored.”

Not all students were keen on the president’s visit. Aidan Meyers attended an anti-Trump rally at a park a few miles away. He told the Associated Press he was upset with the decision to let Trump speak at the event.

“I felt betrayed that the university was willing to put up with someone who has made it clear that they hate academia, essentially holding funding above universities’ heads as a bargaining chip, unless they bow down to what he wants, which is kind of a hallmark sign with fascist regime,” Meyers said.”

Trump’s Speech

Trump took the opportunity to pat himself on the back for his win in conservative Alabama, recalling to the moment he won the state after the polls closed on election night.

“It was very, very quick and nasty,” Trump said. That’s what we like.”

Trump celebrated UA seniors, calling them the first graduating class of the golden age of the United States. 

“This is Alabama,” Trump said. “And at Alabama, you fight, fight, fight, and you win, win, win. That’s what you know how to do.”

Trump  offered advice to the graduates telling them to work hard, think positive and never give up. He encouraged journalism majors to build a media that Americans can trust. This was mere hours before announcing a new executive order that would ban federal funding going to PBS and NPR.

“Because we need a great and free press,” Trump said. “We need a brilliant press. They’re like a watchkeeper. They’re very important.”

Trump acknowledged his speech frequently twisted into politics. He bashed the Biden administration, saying the previous president let other countries walk all over the U.S. But tariffs, he said, will get back at those countries. He claimed that egg prices and gas prices are down since his term began. He added that illegal immigration is down but also that judges are interfering with those efforts because of due process. 

“But how can you give due process to someone who came into the country illegally?” Trump said. 

Trump meandered down various tangents. At one point he performed a mocking impression of weightlifters as part of a rant against transgender women in sports.

In the midst of the campaign-style political talk, he promised a bright future both for and by the UA students.

“We are turning it all around,” Trump said. “We will very quickly make America great again.”