CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS: Harvard University’s president used his commencement ceremony address to take a thinly veiled jab at President Donald Trump amid the ongoing tension.
The commencement ceremony for the graduating Class of 2025 featured remarks from renowned students, illustrious keynote speakers, and faculty heads, all of whom addressed the conflicts between the university and the Trump administration.
President Alan Garber, however, received a notable 30-second standing ovation after he took a dig at the Trump administration‘s attempts to kick out all of the university’s foreign students.
BREAKING: At the Harvard Graduation Ceremony moments ago, Harvard President Alan M. Garber just got a standing ovation after taking a subtle shot at President Trump.
“To the class of 2025, from down the street, across the country and around the world. AROUND THE WORLD! JUST AS… pic.twitter.com/jdsRmkLhS7
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) May 29, 2025
Harvard President Alan Garber’s dig at Donald Trump
Alan Garber began his commencement address by welcoming the 9,000 or so graduates at the historic Tercentenary Theatre in Harvard Yard on Thursday, May 29.
“To the class of 2025, from down the street, across the country, and around the world,” he began, pausing for applause before repeating himself for emphasis. “Around the world, just as it should be.”
The moment Garber delivered the remark, the audience of 30,000 rose in a standing ovation that lasted more than 30 seconds, according to the Daily Beast.
Garber’s words were a direct attack on the Trump administration, which revoked Harvard’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP), halting its ability to enroll new foreign students.
Keynote speaker Dr Abraham Verghese, a popular novelist and Stanford Medical School professor, also hailed Harvard and its students for “courageously defending the essential values of this university, and indeed of this nation.”
“No recent events can diminish what each of you have accomplished here,” he told the graduates at the ceremony, according to the People.
Judge blocks Donald Trump admin from barring foreign students at Harvard
Alan Garber’s address came as a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from barring foreign students’ admission at Harvard.
On Wednesday, the US Department of Homeland Security issued a notice of intent to withdraw Harvard’s certification under a federal program that allows non-US students to enroll.
In response, Harvard filed a lawsuit, alleging that the administration’s decision to bar international students was a “blatant violation” of the law and free speech rights.
Following the court ruling, the White House reversed its prior order, stating that Harvard would now have 30 days to contest the withdrawal through a formal administrative process.
The order to ban foreign students was Trump’s latest attack against the Ivy League university. Earlier, he threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status and freeze over $3 billion in federal funds for the university.
The 78-year-old president has accused the university of liberal bias, failing to combat antisemitism, and failing to enroll enough Americans.
White House hits back at Alan Garber’s dig
Deputy White House Press Secretary Harrison Fields fired back at Alan Garber’s dig, saying, “The real threat to higher education comes when places like Harvard let their students’ civil rights get trampled in a spineless attempt to coddle pro-Hamas activists.”
