President Donald Trump, while addressing graduates at the University of Alabama, told them to aim high and hold on to their goals. But beyond those encouraging words, he went much further during his speech.
His remarks on May 1 blended political criticism with motivational phrases often heard at graduation ceremonies. He used the platform to condemn the leadership of former President Joe Biden and expressed frustration with court rulings that blocked his immigration policies.
According to Trump, the last four years brought harm to the United States. He remarked, “We were led by individuals who lacked understanding.
They simply didn’t know what they were doing. And I’m trying to put it mildly. These people allowed our beloved country to be mocked and used by others.”
Trump Outlines His Plans While Addressing Economic Concerns
During the same speech, Trump spoke about the goals of his second term. One of the important points he raised was the imposition of tariffs, which many experts believe has brought instability to an economy where new graduates are now trying to find their place.
Despite a recorded economic decline of 0.3% in the first quarter, marking the worst result in three years, he gave a very different outlook. He told the graduates, “You’re stepping into a time that holds big changes and strong possibilities. Very soon, you will witness growth like never before. That growth will begin shortly.”
Trump did not hold back in criticizing President Biden over the inflation rates seen during his time in office. He even admitted, with a small grin, that his speech was “a little political.”
Federal Judges and Immigration Policy Draw Trump’s Criticism
On the day of his speech, a judge, whom Trump had appointed, issued a ruling that barred him from applying the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to remove Venezuelan migrants in parts of Texas. This decision became another point of contention in his address.
Trump argued that the number of illegal border crossings had dropped since he returned to office, but claimed that judges were blocking his efforts to carry out his duties.
“The courts keep stepping in,” he said. “They say it’s about due process. But how can you apply due process to those who entered the country unlawfully? I don’t understand how they expect that to work.”
Transgender Issues, Tech CEOs, and a Local Shoutout
As the speech continued, Trump also brought up several other subjects. He expressed his disapproval of transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. He repeated a past claim that he had renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
And he praised the University of Alabama’s athletic program, which was introduced earlier by former football coach Nick Saban.
Trump even used strong language to describe his relationship with tech industry leaders. He said they once opposed him, but now “they’re kissing my (expletive),” drawing loud cheers from the audience. Alabama, a state that supported Trump by a large margin during the 2024 election, gave him a warm reception throughout.
Focus on the Future
To end his speech, Trump took a swipe at Harvard University. That institution had been under financial and legal pressure during his administration due to a freeze on $2.3 billion in funding and a civil rights investigation.
He told the Alabama crowd, “It’s not the Harvard Crimson that will shape the future of America. It will be you, the Crimson Tide.”
