Trump at Alabama's Commencement: 'Have the Courage to Be an Outsider' — 'Find Your Limits, and Then Smash Through' (May 1, 2025)

Introduced by Nick Saban, President Donald Trump told the University of Alabama’s Class of 2025 how to win. “Number six, if you want to change the world, you have to have the courage to be an outsider. In other words, you have to take certain risks and do things a little bit differently,” Trump said at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa on May 1, 2025, according to the transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

“Progress never comes from those satisfied with the failures of a broken system. It comes from those who want to fix the broken system,” he said [1].

The video above shows Trump’s commencement address at the University of Alabama on May 1, 2025. Quotes are from the American Presidency Project [1][2].

”Roll Tide”

“Congratulations to the class of 2025. Roll Tide,” Trump began. “As a student at Alabama, you’ll always remember where you were when your head coach, Nick Saban, retired.” [1]

“Today it’s my pleasure to return to this campus as the first President ever to deliver the keynote commencement address to this truly great American university,” he said [1].

“For the University of Alabama, good isn’t good enough, tough isn’t tough enough, and great isn’t great enough,” Trump said [1].

He praised the football program. “Alabama has changed college football forever and inscribed into the history books the names of Bear Bryant, Joe Namath, four Heisman Trophy winners, and of course, the great Nick Saban. This place is truly where legends are made,” Trump said [1].

”A Revolution of Common Sense”

“Now, exactly 250 years after the first patriots stood and fought at Lexington and Concord, we’re in the midst of another kind of revolution, a revolution of winning and a revolution of common sense,” Trump said [1].

“Everywhere you look, broken systems, corrupt institutions, and tired dogmas are being swept away by the tide of history,” he said [1].

“The spirit of our age is one of boldness, vigor, ambition, and adventure. And it’s exciting to be you and young. Oh, I’d pay you a lot of money to have your age,” Trump said, as the crowd laughed [1].

”You’re Not Too Young”

Trump gave the graduates a list of lessons. “First, if you’re here today and think that you’re too young to do something great, let me tell you that you are wrong. You’re not too young,” he said [1].

“I was 28 when I took my first big gamble to develop a hotel in Midtown Manhattan, the Grand Hyatt, and it worked out incredibly well,” Trump said. “Steve Jobs was 21 when he founded Apple. Walt Disney was 21 when he founded Disney.” [1]

“Second of all, and very importantly, you have to love what you do,” Trump said. “I rarely see somebody that’s successful that doesn’t love what he or she does.” [1]

“Fourth is work hard. Work hard. Never ever stop,” he said [1].

“Fifth is don’t lose your momentum. Just—you just want to keep it going,” Trump said [1].

He said “everybody should believe in the American dream. It’s real, it’s there, and it’s right before you.” And: “Ninth, think of yourself as a winner.” [1]

“Find Your Limits, and Then Smash Through”

“From the day you leave this incredible university, go out and fight—fight tough, fight fair, but go out and fight,” Trump told the graduates [1].

“Now is the time to work harder than you have ever worked before, push yourself further than you have ever pushed yourself before, find your limits, and then smash through everything,” he said. “You’ve watched that football team smash through; you’re going to do the same thing.” [1]

“You’ll look back, and a decade from now, you’ll be astounded by what you’ve achieved,” Trump said [1].

”God Only Created One of You”

Trump named Americans “who had the confidence to be a little different,” among them “Teddy Roosevelt, Douglas MacArthur, George Patton, Amelia Earhart, Annie Oakley, Muhammad Ali.” [1]

“God only created one of you. Remember that: God created one of you. You’re all different,” he said. “You’re one of a kind, so don’t try to be someone else. Just be yourself.” [1]

“And finally, and most importantly, never ever give up. Never give up. Never. Never give up,” Trump said [1].

“I’ve watched Coach Saban win games that really were virtually over,” he said [1].

”Will Not Be Written by the Harvard Crimson”

Trump closed with a jab at Harvard. “The next chapter of the American story will not be written by the Harvard Crimson. It will be written by you, the Crimson Tide,” he said, to applause [1].

“Because this is Alabama, and in Alabama, you fight, fight, fight, and you win, win, win,” Trump said [1].

By the Numbers

7: commencement ceremonies combined into one for the first time, per Trump [1].
10: years university President Bell has served, per Trump [1].
100,000: graduates during Bell’s tenure, per Trump [1].
4: Alabama Heisman Trophy winners, per Trump [1].

What Happened Next

Trump took the message to West Point. Three weeks later, on May 24, 2025, he gave the commencement address at the U.S. Military Academy. “Every cadet on the field before me should savor this morning, because this is a day that you will never, ever forget,” Trump said [2].

For that speech, see HYGO News’ page on West Point, May 24, 2025. For Trump and Harvard’s $50 billion endowment, see the page on April 15, 2025.