Former President Donald Trump returned to the spotlight on May 1, 2025, as he delivered the keynote address at the University of Alabama’s commencement ceremony in Tuscaloosa.
While offering congratulations to the graduating class, Trump’s speech took a humorous — and controversial — turn when he broke into a physical imitation that drew both laughter and raised eyebrows.
Midway through his remarks, Trump began discussing athletic competition and referenced sports records that had stood the test of time. He highlighted a weightlifting record he claimed had remained unbroken for 18 years, setting the stage for a broader commentary on fairness in women’s sports.
As he introduced the topic, Trump paused to acknowledge his wife Melania’s typical reaction to his public gestures.
“Should I imitate it? You know, my wife gets very upset when I do this,” he told the crowd.
“She says, ‘Darling, it’s not presidential.’ I say, ‘Yeah, but people like it.’”
The audience responded with cheers, encouraging him to continue. Trump, grinning, added:
“Alright, I’m in trouble when I get home. But that’s OK — what the hell. I’ve been in lots of trouble before.”
He then proceeded to mimic what he described as a transgender athlete shattering a long-standing weightlifting record, raising his arms in an exaggerated fashion to illustrate the moment. The crowd laughed in response.
Trump went on to recount a scenario where a female athlete attempted to break a weightlifting record but was ultimately surpassed by a transgender competitor.
“That’s not right,” he stated, reinforcing his long-held stance on gender and competition in sports.
