Trump Declares Alabama Graduates as Pioneers of the ‘Golden Age of America’
“You are graduating at a thrilling time for our nation, marked by both remarkable transformation and immense potential,” declared the president.
President Donald Trump addressed graduates at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Thursday night, delivering a nearly hour-long speech filled with humor and motivational themes, earning roars of approval from the audience.
“I assure you, you are the inaugural graduating class of America’s golden age,” Trump stated.
“You are graduating at an invigorating moment for our country, characterized by extraordinary changes and boundless potential, which will lead to unprecedented growth.”
This commencement address marked Trump’s first since returning to the White House for a second term, coinciding with his 100th day in office.
The president urged students to adopt “positive thinking,” to “work diligently,” and to “seize control of their own destiny and create their own luck.”
He expressed gratitude to Alabama voters for electing him by a 45 percent margin and told the crowd that his administration is reforming the federal government to better serve upcoming generations.
Related Stories
“Everywhere you turn, broken systems and corrupt institutions are being swept aside by the flow of history,” Trump remarked. “Ancient wisdom is being revived, and the most vital and robust qualities of America are returning, blossoming bigger, better, and greater than ever, and they are coming back rapidly.”
Known for his criticism of mainstream media as “fake news,” Trump humorously engaged journalism students before stressing the importance of a free press in a functioning democracy, calling the media one of society’s pillars.
He encouraged graduates to “never give up,” emphasizing that “perseverance is everything,” and urged them to remain “optimistic.”
“In America, the impossible is what we excel at,” Trump asserted. “There’s nothing you can’t achieve if you are ready to fight for it. You must fight, fight, fight.”
The president’s speech blended elements from his campaign rallies with local aspects, including several references to the university’s football team and an energizing “Roll Tide” to galvanize the crowd, many of whom sported Make America Great Again hats amid a sea of crimson.
Introduced by legendary seven-time national champion and university football coach Nick Saban, the president celebrated Alabama’s winning spirit, drawing parallels between its athletic prowess and the graduates’ potential as they embark on their careers.
He hinted at ongoing legal disputes with Harvard University and praised the Alabama students for their leadership in choosing “liberty over lockdown” during the pandemic, suggesting they are poised to lead the nation in the years ahead.
“It’s clear that the next chapter of the American narrative will not be penned by the Harvard Crimson,” Trump declared. “It will be written by you, the Crimson Tide.”
One of the loudest applause moments came from his remarks about banning men from participating in women’s sports.
“As long as I am president, we will always defend women’s sports. Men will not participate,” Trump proclaimed, listing instances where transgender athletes have outperformed women in competitions.
Some detractors of the president’s policies organized protests at the event.
“Considering the White House has withdrawn federal funding from colleges and universities across the nation, we understand if [President Stuart R. Bell’s] administration feels caught between a rock and a hard place. We simply don’t want UA to become a backdrop for MAGA propaganda,” their statement read.
