Matthew Continetti digs deeper than mainstream media outlets into President Donald Trump’s commencement address at the University of Alabama.
Trump “weaved” together talking points and ad libs with something novel and unexpected: a 10-point distillation of his personal philosophy. If you watch or read the full speech, you get to know what Trump values, and what he believes is behind his success in business, entertainment, and politics. …
… Success happens at a young age. “In America, with drive and ambition, young people can do anything,” Trump said. No surprise he made great gains with young people in 2024.
Trump noted that he was 28 years old when he bought the Commodore Hotel in Manhattan and developed it into the Grand Hyatt—the beginning of his rise in New York real estate and social life. …
… Love what you do. “I rarely see somebody that’s successful that doesn’t love what he or she does,” Trump told the graduates. He pointed to his father, Fred Trump, who died in 1999 at age 93. “He was a tough guy—tough as hell, actually,” Trump said, later adding, “He worked seven days a week.” Not because he had to, but because he enjoyed it.
While it’s hard for his critics to understand, Donald Trump and his supporters enjoy politics. A sense of fun, improvisation, and risk imbues his rallies and campaigns.
Think big. “It’s just as hard to solve a small problem as a big problem,” Trump said. He finds the audacious more enticing than the incremental. …
… Work hard. “Never, ever stop,” Trump said. That explains the 2 a.m. tweets.
To illustrate his point, Trump told a story about Gary Player, the South African professional golfer who, among other achievements, won nine major championships. “He made a statement years ago that I read, and I thought it was sort of an incredible statement,” Trump said. “He said, ‘It’s funny—the harder I work, the luckier I get.’ ”
