We watched dozens of 2025 graduation speeches. Here’s what we found.
President Trump, Kermit the Frog and others were among the keynote speakers.
From The Times
June 17, 2025

It has been a graduation season unlike any other, with Trump administration investigations and funding cuts adding to already high tensions on campuses. We studied dozens of keynote speeches, including addresses by President Trump, Kermit the Frog and a slew of celebrities, to see how speakers handled today’s pressing issues.

A triptych of Gary Sinise, Taraji P. Henson and JD Vance delivering commencement addresses.

John Russell/Vanderbilt University, Paras Griffin/Getty Images, Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images, Jared Lazarus, Duke University

Here are five key themes that emerged. →

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