‘Find your limits and then smash through everything’: Donald Trump’s 10 life tips for graduates

U.S. President Donald Trump shared 10 pieces of advice drawn from his personal and professional life during a commencement speech at the University of Alabama on Thursday.

Speaking to the Class of 2025 at the university’s Coleman Coliseum, Trump encouraged graduates to believe in themselves, take risks, and never give up. “Think of yourself as a winner,” “Be an original,” and “Never, ever give up,” were among his top suggestions. “Now is the time to work harder than you’ve ever worked before,” he said. “Find your limits and then smash through everything.”

He recalled making his first hotel development deal in his twenties, using the example to urge students not to underestimate their potential at a young age. “You are never too young to be successful,” he emphasized.


Trump also congratulated the graduates as “the first graduating class of the golden age of America,” concluding his speech with the local rallying cry: “Roll Tide.”

The event marked Trump’s first commencement address of his second term, set against the backdrop of a public university in Republican-leaning Alabama—symbolic of his ongoing criticism of elite private institutions in Democrat-run states.

University President Stuart Bell opened the evening by encouraging graduates to reflect on the importance of academic inquiry, civic leadership, and public service. However, Trump’s address veered into campaign-style commentary.

He repeated unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 election was “rigged” and criticized the participation of transgender women in sports, claiming, “Men should not play in women's sports,” which drew one of the loudest reactions from the audience.

Trump also remarked that tech executives who had previously opposed him were now seeking his favor: “They all hated me in my first term, and now they’re kissing my ass.”

Despite the political overtones, Trump emphasized support for the graduates and positioned his advice as a guide to personal and professional success.