Matthew Continetti's article analyzes Donald Trump's commencement speech at the University of Alabama, focusing on the speech's largely ignored insights into Trump's personal philosophy. The author points out that despite the speech's significant potential for revealing Trump's mindset, mainstream media largely overlooked its underlying message.
The article highlights the missed opportunity for deeper analysis and understanding of Trump's mindset, suggesting that focusing solely on criticism misses an opportunity to examine the motivations behind his actions and successes.
You may have noticed that Donald Trump is not the most self-reflective person. At least, not in public. But last week at the University of Alabama, Trump delivered a commencement address that revealed more about his mind than any speech since taking office. Naturally, the press missed the story.
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. Such insight is fascinating—or should be to anyone interested in the psychology of the world’s most powerful man.
Which makes it remarkable that the speech received so little coverage. Media reports concentrated on either the speech’s political content or on Trump’s extended comic routine about transgender athletes. It was another reminder that so many journalists remain reflexively hostile toward and stubbornly incurious about the president, despite his 40-year-long grip on the public imagination and his two stunning election victories.
Some articles highlighted one or two of Trump’s life tips. But I couldn’t find a single news story that summarized all 10. The lack of specifics was frustrating. Trump criticism is an oversaturated market. Why not ask what makes him tick?
At this writing, the White House has yet to post a transcript of the address. (You can find one here.) Let’s look at each of Trump’s pearls of wisdom for the class of 2025:
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