Harvard University, amid the intense battle with the Trump administration, kicked off its commencement ceremony on Thursday for the graduating Class of 2025. What caught everybody’s attention was the university president Alan Garber’s speech.

Garber, in his opening speech, gave a veiled critique of the Trump administration’s stance on international students. “Members of the Class of 2025, from down the street, across the country and around the world … just as it should be,” Garber said, adding that he hopes “members of the Class of 2025, stay comfortable being uncomfortable”. 

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Garber’s Graduation Speech at Harvard

Harvard has been at the front line of resistance to the administration’s demand targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, admissions of international students, and pro-Palestinian demands. The University’s refusal to follow a series of retaliatory steps, including the revocation of its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification. On May 23, a federal judge issued a ruling by blocking the move temporarily.

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Just four days later, President Trump ordered the suspension of all federal research contracts with Harvard. Calling the move as ‘’perplexing”, Graber stated, ‘’We need to remain firm in our commitments to what we stand for. And we stand for, I believe I speak for other universities, is education, pursuit of truth , helping to educate people for better futures.’’

Garber further said that the termination of the contract would hurt national interest. “Why cut off research funding? Sure, it hurts Harvard, but it hurts the country’’, he mentioned. “The research funding is not a gift…it is work what they want done.’’

Human rights researcher Yaqiu Wang shared similar concerns to Reuters over broad restrictions, People reported. Wang said that such actions could, “jeopardise the rights and livelihoods of Chinese students” and weaken the US position as a “global leader in scientific innovation.”