Top colleges are avoiding political commencement speakers during President Trump’s second term, instead opting for entertainers, athletes, academics and entrepreneurs.
Schools such as the University of Maryland (hosting Kermit the Frog), University of Pennsylvania (featuring alumna Elizabeth Banks), and Emory University (inviting R&B singer Usher) have moved away from political figures who dominated graduation stages in previous years.
Campus insiders suggest this shift reflects both political fatigue among students and institutions’ fear of reprisals from the Trump administration regarding higher education funding.
Louis Mancuso from Maryland’s Student Government Association notes students are “sick of hearing about all the negative things” and prefer nonpartisan speakers during their celebrations.
The trend extends to traditionally liberal-leaning universities that previously welcomed Democratic speakers but are now choosing neutral figures. Some professors lament this change as a missed opportunity for intellectual engagement, while others view it as a pragmatic response to polarization. The only major venues likely to host political speakers are military academies, while politicians who do speak are relegated to smaller, ideologically aligned institutions.
Experts debate whether this trend will continue, with some suggesting universities will return to inviting political figures once the political climate shifts. Meanwhile, conservative groups argue that left-leaning media figures still maintain a presence on graduation stages while right-wing voices remain absent.
Upcoming dates:
• Kermit the Frog — May 21 — University of Maryland.
• Elizabeth Banks — May 19 — University of Pennsylvania.
• Usher Raymond IV — May 12 — Emory University.
• Jonquel Jones — May 18 — George Washington University.
• Jarryd Wallace — May 9 — University of Georgia.
• Colleen Shogan — May 10 — Warren Wilson College.
• Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin — May 2025 (date unspecified) — Liberty University.
• Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears — May 2025 (date unspecified) — Regent University.
• Former Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow — May 3 — Albion College.
• Former Montana Gov. Steve Bullock — May 18 — Columbia Law School.
Read more: Colleges shun politics in graduation speaker invites
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