Conan O’Brien mocks Trump administration over Harvard visa crackdown during graduation speech

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS: Comedian Conan O’Brien turned Harvard University’s commencement ceremony into a politically charged comedy set after taking multiple jabs at President Donald Trump and his administration during his speech on Thursday, May 28.

The late-night television veteran mixed self-deprecating humor with pointed political commentary while addressing graduates at the Ivy League school. 

Conan O’Brien jokes about suing Harvard alongside Donald Trump lawsuits

Early in the speech, O’Brien poked fun at his own Harvard experience before turning the joke toward Trump and the administration’s lawsuits against the university.

The comedian sarcastically claimed he was considering legal action against Harvard itself over several personal grievances from his college years.

During the address, O’Brien joked that he would sue the university over his “less-than-spectacular undergraduate sex life” and the “cast-iron bunk bed” in his dorm room.

“I’m confident that my claims will have more merit than those filed by the President of the United States,” O'Brien said as the crowd erupted in cheers.

The remark was a direct swipe at the Trump administration’s lawsuits against Harvard over allegations involving antisemitism protections and discrimination in admissions policies.

Conan O’Brien mocks Trump administration’s stance on foreign students

O’Brien continued targeting the administration later in the speech when discussing Harvard’s international student population.

Referencing Trump’s attempts to block Harvard University’s use of international student visas over national security concerns, the comedian delivered another sarcastic monologue that drew heavy audience laughter.

“As you are aware, the current administration feels Harvard admits too many foreign students,” O'Brien said.

“And who knows, maybe they may have a point. After all, what has any foreigner ever added to our American culture, with the possible exception of music, literature, art, cuisine, fashion, architecture, dance, scientific breakthroughs, and the core of our moral codes and ethical beliefs?” he continued.

O’Brien then pushed the joke even further into absurd territory.

“If foreigners hadn’t gummed up the works, right now we’d all be listening to delightful Calvinist reggae, eating savory Church of England ziti and dancing the forbidden and sexually charged Lutheran lambada,” he added.

Conan O’Brien criticizes ‘extreme narcissism’ in America’s political culture

The comedian later shifted from jokes to commentary about the country’s political and social climate.

O’Brien lamented what he described as a growing culture of “extreme narcissism” and accused current leadership in Washington of treating empathy like a weakness.

“Our current leadership in Washington believes that empathy is a weakness, and that our nation stands supreme and alone,” O'Brien said during the speech.

He also criticized modern social media culture and the way people increasingly center themselves online.

“Add to that, everyone here today has a phone in their pocket that is algorithmically programmed to celebrate you and you alone by making you the protein-maxing hero of your own special journey,” he told graduates.

The speech sparked immediate political reactions afterward, including from the White House.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle dismissed O’Brien’s comments entirely.

“Nobody in their right mind cares what woke celebrities in Hollywood say or think,” Ingle said.

Conan O’Brien says comedians should make fun of everyone

Despite his sharp criticism of Trump and conservative politics during the commencement speech, O’Brien has previously argued that comedy should not exclusively target one political side.

Earlier this month, the comedian discussed political comedy during an episode of his podcast, ‘Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend,’ where he rejected the idea that comedians and the media only attack conservatives.

“There’s this misconception that the media just wants to go after conservatives,” O’Brien said during the podcast episode.

“And they don’t understand that everyone benefits when they laugh at themselves. Everyone wins. If you laugh at yourself, it humanizes you,” he added.