474Ca06E Da82 4381 8638 831Db550Ac8F E1745431765904 — “President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in Alabama” by The White House is licensed under CC PDM 1.0

After a social media post from President Donald Trump sparked rumors of a presidential visit to Tuscaloosa, the University of Alabama confirmed the news Tuesday afternoon.

The university said Trump will deliver a “commencement address” on Thursday, May 1 to spring 2025 graduates. The event will not overlap with previously scheduled graduation events which are still slated for May 2-4.

Thursday’s ceremony will be a ticketed event with the university releasing more details soon. Campus logistics and enhanced security measures are also expected to be announced in the coming days.

“The University of Alabama is honored to have been selected as one of the universities President Donald J. Trump will visit to deliver a spring commencement address… We look forward to celebrating our graduates throughout commencement weekend as we confer degrees to thousands of hardworking students who will go on to make a positive impact in the workforce and in communities across Alabama, our nation and the world.”
University of Alabama

Tickets are free but non-transferrable. You can find the latest information on all of the university’s graduation events on their website.

As expected, the university’s social media post sparked a divisive discussion among alumni.

Alabama’s graduations will be held at Coleman Coliseum on campus. The full schedule includes:

Thursday, May 1
- President Donald Trump event | Time TBA | Ticketed event
Friday, May 2
- 1:30PM – College of Arts and Sciences I (Last names A-L)
- 4:30PM – College of Arts and Sciences II (Last names M-Z)
- 7:30PM – College of Engineering & School of Social Work
Saturday, May 3
- 8:30AM – Capstone College of Nursing, College of Community Health Sciences & College of Human Environmental Sciences
- 12PM – College of Communication and Information Sciences & College of Education
- 3:30PM – Culverhouse College of Business I (Last names A-L)
- 7PM – Culverhouse College of Business II (Last names M-Z)
Sunday, May 4
- 2PM – School of Law

According to the Tuscaloosa News, there has not been a commencement speaker outside of the School of Law ceremony since 2007. That speaker was James T. Stephens, former president and chairman of EBSCO Industries, who used the platform to speak out against the U.S. war in Iraq.

Auburn University commencement

Auburn also recently announced its commencement speakers for the spring graduations.

“This spring’s inspiring speakers include award-winning journalist and producer Eric Ludgood, ’78; founder and CEO of the Tara Wilson Agency, Tara Wilson, ’97; Dr. Tridoyo Kusumastanto, ’94,president commissioner of Bogor Life Science and Technology, the holding company of IPB University; leading veterinarian and pharmacist Dr. Frank G. Vice, ’86; and Dr. Lucinda L. Maine,CEO Emerita of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. The graduates will celebrate their achievements alongside alumnus Gen. (Ret.) Ronald Burgess, ’74, who will be presented with an honorary degree.”
Auburn University

Auburn’s commencement schedule includes:

Saturday, May 10
8AM: College of Agriculture | College of Education | College of Sciences and Mathematics
1PM: College of Architecture, Design and Construction | College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment | College of Human Sciences | College of Nursing
6PM: Harbert College of Business
Sunday, May 11
1PM: College of Liberal Arts
6PM: Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
Monday, May 12
1PM: College of Pharmacy (PharmD ONLY)
6PM: College of Veterinary Medicine (DVM ONLY)