Comedian and television host Conan O’Brien is set to address Harvard University graduates at their commencement Thursday as the Ivy League institution finds itself under intense scrutiny from the Trump administration.
The administration filed a lawsuit against Harvard in March, alleging the university’s leadership failed to adequately address antisemitism on campus.
The legal action came months after a judge ruled in Harvard’s favor in a separate case, compelling the administration to reverse billions of dollars in funding cuts. The Trump administration had previously slashed over $2.6 billion in Harvard’s research funding, terminated federal contracts, and attempted to prevent the college from hosting international students.
Harvard contended it was being unlawfully penalized for not aligning with the Trump administration’s perspectives.
Harvard commencements have grown increasingly political in recent years, partly due to these ongoing disputes with the federal government.
Last year, students applauded speakers who championed a diverse and international student body and advocated for truth in the face of attacks by the Trump administration.
The year prior, graduates staged a walkout, chanting "Free, free Palestine" amid campus protests over the war in Gaza. Others chanted "Let them walk, let them walk," after the university announced some students involved in a protest encampment would not receive their diplomas with their peers.
This year, striking graduate students at Harvard have declared their intention to picket the commencement, citing a lack of progress in contract negotiations with the university.
The more than 4,000 graduate student workers are demanding improved pay, an independent process for handling harassment and discrimination complaints, and contractual protections for noncitizen and disabled employees, among other issues.
At Thursday’s commencement. Harvard will grant honorary degrees to five distinguished recipients, including O’Brien.
Three men and two women will be honored:
- Geoffrey Hinton, the “Godfather of AI” and winner of a Nobel Prize in Physics
- Sir Noel Malcolm, a historian and political journalist expert in the intricacies of European history
- Audra McDonald, the singer and actor, and Tony Award-winning Broadway star
- Peggy Noonan, a Pulitzer prize-winning columnist for the Wall Street Journal
- O’Brien, the comedian, writer, and producer
