--- title: Hillary Clinton Threw Shade at President Trump at Wellesley description: Hillary Clinton sharply criticized President Trump during her graduation speech at Wellesley College Friday. canonical: https://time.com/4795805/hillary-clinton-wellesley-trump-speech/ author: Tessa Berenson article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-05-26T16:36:53.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-08T09:04:26.826Z article:section: Politics og:title: Hillary Clinton Threw Major Shade at President Trump og:description: Speaking at Wellesley's graduation. og:url: https://time.com/4795805/hillary-clinton-wellesley-trump-speech/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt5a7e60420a179993/6988cf2f196cf41b90040534/hillary-clinton2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: Eighth Annual Women In The World Summit og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Hillary Clinton Threw Major Shade at President Trump twitter:description: Speaking at Wellesley's graduation. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt5a7e60420a179993/6988cf2f196cf41b90040534/hillary-clinton2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Hillary Clinton Threw Major Shade at President Trump at Wellesley's Graduation > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=ca38014d-aa8f-4a79-98b2-0e5c69a8f062&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Hillary Clinton Threw Shade at President Trump at Wellesley's Graduation [Watch (HLS stream): Hillary Clinton Threw Shade at President Trump at Wellesley's Graduation](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/ha9Qj2EV.m3u8) (3:19)  _Published 2017-05-26. Hillary Clinton sharply criticized President Trump during her graduation speech at Wellesley College Friday, delivering a stinging rebuke to his policies and governing style without ever mentioning his name._  by [Tessa Berenson](https://time.com/author/tessa-berenson/)  ## Tessa Berenson May 26, 2017 4:36 PM UTC Hillary Clinton sharply criticized President Trump during her graduation speech at Wellesley College Friday, delivering a stinging rebuke to his policies and governing style without ever mentioning his name.  by [Tessa Berenson](https://time.com/author/tessa-berenson/)  ## Tessa Berenson May 26, 2017 4:36 PM UTC Hillary Clinton sharply criticized President Trump during her graduation speech at Wellesley College Friday, delivering a stinging rebuke to his policies and governing style without ever mentioning his name. She started with a playful tone talking about her election loss. “You may have heard that things didn’t exactly go the way I planned. but you know what, I’m doing OK,” she said. “I’ve gotten to spend time with my family, especially my amazing grandchildren … long [walks in the woods](http://motto.time.com/4567258/mom-meets-hillary-clinton-hike/?iid=sr-link4), organizing my closets. I won’t lie, Chardonnay helped a little too.” She implicitly [compared Trump to President Nixon](http://time.com/4697223/trump-nixon-comparisons/?iid=sr-link2) talking about her own graduation from Wellesley in 1969, to laughter from the audience. “We were furious about the past presidential election of a man whose presidency would eventually end in disgrace for impeachment of obstruction of justice,” she said, “after firing the person running the investigation into him at the Department of Justice.” But she then took a more serious turn, [condemning Trump’s new budget](http://time.com/4792126/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-proposed-budget/?iid=sr-link1) and denouncing the dangerous direction she sees the Administration taking the country. “There is a full-fledged assault on truth and reason,” she said. “Just log on to social media for ten seconds, it will hit you right in the face. People denying science, concocting elaborate hurtful conspiracy theories about child abuse rings operating out of [pizza parlors](http://time.com/4590255/pizzagate-fake-news-what-to-know/?iid=sr-link1), drumming up rampant fear about undocumented immigrants, Muslims, minorities, the poor … Some are even denying things we see with our own eyes, like the [size of crowds](http://time.com/4643927/sean-spicer-white-house-donald-trump-inauguration-press-briefing/?iid=sr-link2). And then defending themselves by talking about quote unquote [alternative facts](http://time.com/4642689/kellyanne-conway-sean-spicer-donald-trump-alternative-facts/?iid=sr-link1).” “When people in power invent their own facts and attack those who question them, it can mark the beginning of the end of a free society,” Clinton continued. “That is not hyperbole, it is what authoritarian regimes throughout history have done.” “In the years to come there will be trolls galore,” Clinton said. “They may even call you a [nasty woman](http://time.com/4537960/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-nasty-woman-debate/?iid=sr-link1).” The audience cheered at the reference to Trump famously calling Clinton that during a presidential debate, which turned the phrase into a rallying cry for her campaign. Clinton implored the all-female graduating class to vote, be active participants in society and politics and work towards their values. “Keep going,” she said. “It’s often during the darkest times when you can do the most good.” ## Transcript You may have heard that things didn't exactly go the way I planned. [ LAUGH ] But you know what? I'm doing okay. [ LAUGH ] [ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] I've gotten to spend time with my family, especially my amazing grandchildren. I was going to give the entire commencement speech about them, but was talked out of it. [ LAUGH ] Long walks in the woods. [ LAUGH ] Organising my closet, right? [ LAUGH ] I won't lie, [ UNKNOWN ] Helped a little too. [ APPLAUSE ] But here's what helped most of all, remembering who I am, where I come from and what I belive. Now, if any of you. Are nervous about what you'll be walking in to when you leave the campus. I know that feeling. I do remember, my commencement, we didnt trust government, authority figures, or really anyone over 30. [ LAUGH ] In large part, thanks to years of heavy casualties and dishonest official statements about Vietnam, and deep differences over civil right and poverty here at home. We were asking urgent questions about whether women people of color religious minorities immigrants whatever be treated with dignity and respect and by the way we were Furious about the past presidential election [ BLANK_AUDIO ] About man whose presidency would eventually end in disgrace with his impeachment for obstruction of justice. [ APPLAUSE ] After firing the person running the investigation in the hem at the department of justice [ APPLAUSE ] You are graduating at a time when there is a full- fledged assault on truth and reason. Just log on [ APPLAUSE ] Just log onto social media for ten seconds, it will hit you right in the face. People denying science, drumming up rampant fear about undocumented immigrants, Muslims, minorities, the poor, turning neighbor against neighbor and sowing division. At a time when we desperately need unity. Some are even denying things we see with our own eyes, like the size of crowds. [ APPLAUSE ] [ NOISE ] And then defending themselves by talking about " alternative facts ". 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