Conan O'Brien Mocks Trump's Harvard Lawsuits at 375th Commencement as White House Dismisses Him
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 28
Conan O'Brien Mocks Trump's Harvard Lawsuits at 375th Commencement as White House Dismisses Him
16 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 28
At Harvard's 375th commencement on Thursday, Conan O'Brien ridiculed the Trump administration's legal fight with the university, joking his own complaints about dorm beds and campus sex life had "more merit."
The barbs targeted two flashpoints in Washington's clash with Harvard: lawsuits alleging failures to protect Jewish students and race-based admissions discrimination, and efforts to curb international student visas on national security grounds.
O'Brien also cast the moment as one of "extreme narcissism," saying U.S. leadership treats empathy as weakness and mocking anti-foreigner rhetoric by listing immigrants' contributions to American culture.
The White House brushed off the speech, with spokesperson Davis Ingle saying "nobody in their right mind cares" what "woke celebrities in Hollywood" think.
The appearance extends O'Brien's recent balancing act on political comedy: he has mocked conservatives before, but earlier this month said comedians and the media do not simply target the right.
How can the administration's student visa restrictions be reconciled with the President's public support for international graduates?
What precedent does the use of federal funding to influence university policy set for academic freedom nationwide?