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NDTV
9 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Harvard President's Trump Dig Gets Standing Ovation During Graduation Event
Harvard University's Class of 2025 graduated on Thursday amid a deepening standoff between the university and the Trump administration over foreign student admissions. The ceremony saw Harvard President Alan M Garber deliver a veiled but firm message against recent federal actions, earning him a standing ovation from graduates and attendees. Alan Garber, speaking at the historic Tercentenary Theatre in Harvard Yard, addressed the global makeup of the university's student body. "To the Class of 2025, from down the street, across the country, and around the world. Around the world, just as it should be," he said, in a pointed response to US President Donald Trump's moves to restrict international enrollments. 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… — Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) May 29, 2025 Alan M Garber, 69, a Harvard alum with a PhD and MD from Stanford, became Interim President in 2024 after Claudine Gay's exit over pro-Palestine protest backlash. His remarks came days after the Trump administration revoked Harvard's certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP), halting its ability to admit new foreign students, a move affecting around 6,800 international students. This followed an earlier freeze on $2.2 billion in federal grants, citing Harvard's refusal to scrap diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes and screen students for ideological bias. Harvard filed a federal lawsuit, calling the move a "blatant violation" of free speech and due process. A judge temporarily blocked the ban, and the White House extended Harvard's deadline to contest the decision from 72 hours to 30 days. Defending the crackdown, Trump told reporters, "Harvard has got to behave themselves," and floated a 15 per cent cap on non-US students. The administration has also accused Harvard of fostering antisemitism, campus unrest, and ties to the Chinese Communist Party, claims the university has firmly denied. The State Department has ordered stricter vetting of all Harvard-bound individuals worldwide, including students and visitors. Visa officers, guided by Secretary Rubio, must review social media and can deny visas for limited or private online activity. "If you are coming here to create problems, you're probably going to have a problem," Rubio said at a press briefing last month. Rubio also revealed that he has revoked hundreds, possibly thousands, of visas over concerns that individuals were engaged in behaviour contrary to US foreign policy.
News18
a day ago
- Politics
- News18
Harvard Chief's Swipe At Trump In Address To 2025 Batch: ‘From Around The World…'
Last Updated: Harvard President Alan Garber, addressing the Class of 2025, extended a warm welcome to students from across the United States and around the world. Days after US President Donald Trump revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students, the university president took a swipe at Trump during the commencement ceremony. Alan Garber received a huge round of applause at Tercentenary Theatre in Harvard Yard after acknowledging the presence of students 'from around the world". 'To the class of 2025, from down the street, across the country, and around the world," he said as students clapped. 'Around the world, just as it should be," he added. His remark came days after the Trump administration on Tuesday asked federal agencies to cancel contracts with Harvard University worth about USD 100 million. The government has already cancelled over USD 2.6 billion in federal research grants for the Ivy League school. President Donald Trump has railed against Harvard, calling it a hotbed of liberalism and antisemitism. Amid the ongoing tensions, a federal judge on Thursday extended an order blocking the Trump administration's attempt to stop Harvard from enrolling foreign students. Harvard also sued the federal government after Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revoked its ability to host foreign students at its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 'Harvard will continue to take steps to protect the rights of our international students and scholars, members of our community who are vital to the University's academic mission and community — and whose presence here benefits our country immeasurably," a university spokesman said in a statement. Notably, more than 7,000 international students, exchange scholars and alumni participating in a post-graduate career training period rely on Harvard for their sponsorship and legal status in the United States. The Trump administration has accused Harvard of promoting liberal ideology and failing to adequately protect Jewish students from harassment. The administration is now calling for structural and policy reforms to bring the university in line with the president's political vision. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
India Today
a day ago
- Politics
- India Today
Video: Harvard chief's jab at Trump in speech to 2025 batch wins standing ovation
During Harvard University's commencement ceremony, President Alan Garber took a jibe at Donald Trump and received a standing ovation after he opened his address by celebrating the presence of students "from around the world". This comes as the Donald Trump administration has been targeting the enrolment of international students at the opening lines drew loud applause from the crowd at the historic Tercentenary Theatre in Harvard Yard. "To the class of 2025, from down the street, across the country and around the world," he said, pausing to allow the cheers to rise. "Around the world, just as it should be."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 Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) May 29, 2025advertisementJust days earlier, the White House attempted to block Harvard from enroling international students and cancelled an additional USD 100 million in federal contracts with the university. The remarks came amid escalating tensions between Harvard and the Trump administration. On Wednesday, the US Department of Homeland Security sent Harvard a notice of intent to withdraw its certification under a federal program that allows the enrolment of non-US students. A federal judge responded by announcing she would issue an order to block the administration's move from taking immediate Thursday, the White House had stepped back from its initial plan, saying Harvard would now have 30 days to contest the withdrawal through a formal administrative the commencement ceremony, speakers from the student body, faculty, and keynote guests addressed the broader climate of political hostility, urging resilience and reaffirming the university's commitment to inclusion and global
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Harvard graduation ceremony: Harvard University President Alan Garber's speech to the Class of 2025 goes viral — here's the full text
ADVERTISEMENT FAQs: ADVERTISEMENT At the Tercentenary Theatre in Harvard Yard Harvard's graduation ceremony for the Class of 2025 happened on May 29. The event happened while Harvard was being criticized by the Trump administration , as per Alan Garber started his speech by welcoming students from 'down the street, across the country, and around the world.' He repeated 'around the world' again for emphasis, which many saw as a dig at Trump's effort to block international students . This line got him a standing ovation, according to the Harvard Trump administration had recently tried to stop Harvard from admitting international students and cancel $100 million in federal research contracts. Garber responded to the funding cut by calling it 'perplexing' and said, research funding isn't a gift, it's for important work the government wants done. Cutting it hurts the whole country, not just Harvard. He also said that linking these actions to antisemitism doesn't make sense, as mentioned in the report by People told students to keep being curious and stay 'comfortable being uncomfortable', starting with the folding chairs they were sitting on. He warned against 'comfortable thinking' and being so sure of your opinions that you stop learning. He said being wrong can teach us humility, empathy, and growth, and told students to stay open-minded, as per the Harvard praised the graduates as proof that Harvard's mission works and said their achievements will help communities around the world. Keynote speaker Dr. Abraham Verghese, who is a Stanford professor and author, praised students for defending Harvard's values and America's values, according to People told students that 'no recent events can diminish' what they achieved at Harvard. In April 2025, the Trump administration sent Harvard a list of demands about, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion programs, admitting international students, and handling of pro-Palestinian protests. After Harvard refused to comply, they became a target for the Trump administration, as per Noem, the Homeland Security Secretary, ended Harvard's certification to enroll international students. But on May 23, a federal judge stopped the move temporarily. On May 27, Trump canceled all remaining government contracts with Aidan Robert Scully gave a Latin speech and said, 'Neither powers nor princes can change the truth and deny that diversity is our strength.' Chinese graduate Yurong 'Luanna' Jiang said meeting classmates from 32 countries helped her see that the world is 'full of real people, with dreams and laughter.'Thor Reimann, another graduate, said, 'We're leaving a campus very different from the one we joined. Harvard is now at the center of a national battle over higher education.' He admitted the university is 'not perfect', but said he's proud to stand with his classmates, faculty, and President Garber, defending Harvard's mission of truth, according to the People supported international students during his speech, which many saw as a response to Trump's administration tried to block foreign students and cut $100 million in federal research funding.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Harvard University President Gets Standing Ovation After Taking Dig at Trump During Graduation Speech
Harvard University President Alan Garber received a standing award for celebrating students from "around the world" during his commencement speech. The ceremony came amid relentless attacks on the university by the Trump administration. In recent days, the White House has attempted to block Harvard from enrolling international students and cancelled $100 million more in federal contracts with the institution. Harvard University hosted its commencement ceremony for the class of 2025 on Thursday, May 29, amid the institution's ongoing feud with President Donald Trump and his administration. The ceremony, held at the historic Tercentenary Theatre in Harvard Yard, featured remarks from prominent students, illustrious keynote speakers and faculty heads, each of whom addressed the tensions between the university and the current political administration. Most notably, Harvard President Alan Garber began his remarks with an apparent dig at the Trump administration's attempts to kick out all of the university's foreign students. "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 simple expression of solidarity with the entirety of his student body earned Garber a standing ovation. Keynote speaker Dr. Abraham Verghese, a bestselling author and professor at Stanford Medical School, praised 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. In April, the Trump administration issued Harvard — and several other prominent U.S. universities — a list of demands targeting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, the admission of international students, pro-Palestinian protests and more. Since their bold refusal to comply with Trump's demands, Harvard has become the lightning rod for the administration's ire. Recently, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced she had ordered the termination of the school's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, which allows Harvard to enroll international students. The university sued, and on May 23, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction that prevents the Trump administration from revoking Harvard's SEVP certification without further legal process. Then, on May 27, Trump ordered the cancellation of the government's remaining federal contracts with Harvard, worth an estimated $100 million. At the time, Garber called the move "perplexing," but said he believed the university needed to remain "firm in our commitments to what we stand for. And what we stand for — I believe I speak for other universities — is education, pursuit of the truth, helping to educate people for better futures." "Why cut off research funding?" Garber continued. "Sure, it hurts Harvard, but it hurts the country because after all, the research funding is not a gift. The research funding is given to universities and other research institutions to carry out work — research work — that the federal government designates as high-priority work. It is work that they want done. They are paying to have that work conducted." "Shutting off that work does not help the country, even as it punishes Harvard, and it is hard to see the link between that and, say, antisemitism," he noted. Students also referenced the ongoing attacks on their university during Thursday's commencement speeches. Salutatorian Aidan Robert Scully, who delivered his speech in Latin, told the crowd that, 'Neither powers nor princes can change the truth and deny that diversity is our strength.' Chinese graduate student Yurong 'Luanna' Jiang, reflected on how Harvard had opened her eyes to a global community. 'When I met my 77 classmates from 32 different countries, the countries I knew only as colorful shapes on a map turned into real people, with laughter, dreams, and the perseverance to survive the long winter in Cambridge,' she said. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Fellow graduate Thor Reimann noted, 'We leave a campus much different than the one we entered, with Harvard at the center of a national battle over higher education in America.' 'Our university is certainly imperfect, but I am proud to stand today with our graduating class, our faculty, and our president in the shared conviction that this ongoing project of veritas is one worth defending,' he shared. Read the original article on People
