The U.S. President brought laughter to a college commencement through animated storytelling, though one playful moment came with a caution.

President Donald Trump delivered the keynote address at the University of Alabama’s commencement ceremony on May 1, 2025. While congratulating graduates in Tuscaloosa, he drew laughter with a physical imitation mid-speech and acknowledged it might not sit well with his wife, Melania Trump.

During his remarks, Trump touched on the topic of athletic competition and referenced sports records that had stood for years. As he began telling a story about weightlifting, he paused to reflect on how his wife typically responds to his public gestures.

“And they have — should I imitate it? You know, my wife gets very upset when I do this. She says, ‘Darling, it’s not presidential.’ I say, ‘Yeah, but people like it,'” he said.

The crowd responded with cheers, prompting Trump to commit to the bit. He 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 mimicked what he described as a transgender athlete breaking a weightlifting record, raising his arms in an exaggerated motion. The audience responded with laughter.

Trump continued the anecdote, describing a female athlete attempting to break a long-standing record, followed by a competitor he described as a “transitioned person” who surpassed the mark significantly. He said, “That’s not right.”

Beyond sports, the anecdote aligned with broader themes in Trump’s address, which centered on fairness, national pride, and the value of perseverance. He concluded by expressing confidence in the graduates’ ability to help shape what he described as a “golden age of America.”