President Trump has announced he’ll deliver commencement addresses at both the University of Alabama and West Point.
“I have agreed to do the Commencement Address at two really GREAT places, the University of Alabama and, WEST POINT. Stay tuned for times and dates!!!” Trump wrote late Monday night on his Truth Social account.
President Donald Trump says he will deliver University of Alabama commencement address
https://t.co/lj8Q2EhVzQ— AL.com (@aldotcom) April 22, 2025
Commencement is scheduled at Alabama May 2-4, and West Point’s graduation ceremonies are slated for May 24. The schools have yet to announce details about the president’s appearances.
The announcement comes amid Trump’s ongoing feud with higher education institutions, particularly Ivy League schools.
The White House has threatened funding at top schools as a way to pressure them to change policies on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and other areas. After the federal government canceled billions in funding for Harvard University, the Ivy League school sued the administration on Monday.
Alabama Sen. Katie Britt (R) said on X that she was “thrilled” Trump will address the University of Alabama for the first time.
Trump did attend a University of Alabama football this past fall.
Former President Donald Trump shown on the video board here at Alabama-Georgia game pic.twitter.com/h3nBWWHjih
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) September 29, 2024
Trump delivered a commencement address at West Point during the pandemic in 2020, toward the end of his first term.
Former President Biden delivered the military academy’s commencement last year, reminding students of their oath “not [to] a political party, not to a president, but to the Constitution of the United States of America, against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”