Amid Harvard’s clash with the Trump administration over fostering an antisemitic environment, the university&#8217;s John F. Kennedy School of Government tapped a CNN anchor critical of Israel and President Donald Trump to deliver its 2025 graduation address.
Christiane Amanpour delivered the address to the student body the day before the commencement ceremony, in which she hailed academics as fighting &#8220;on the front lines of the current struggle between the two halves of America.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
CNN&#39;s Christiane Amanpour, known for anti-Israel &amp; anti-Trump controversies, delivered Harvard Kennedy School’s grad address, calling education &quot;on the front lines between the two halves of America&quot; and saying that Europe welcomes &quot;those who are having their roles taken away.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/uo2qQ7ZOT0">pic.twitter.com/uo2qQ7ZOT0</a>
&mdash; Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) <a href="https://twitter.com/KassyAkiva/status/1927817137000722708?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
The speech comes as the Trump administration and Harvard continue to face off over <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/harvard-cuts-ties-with-hamas-friendly-birzeit-university">campus antisemitism</a> and the school&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-other-countries-pay-nothing-for-foreign-students-to-attend-harvard?author=Tim+Pearce&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Says+Other+Countries+%E2%80%98Pay+NOTHING%E2%80%99+For+Foreign+Students+To+Attend+Harvard">ability to admit</a> new foreign students. This week, the Trump administration announced that Harvard would lose close to all of its federal funding.
During the speech, Amanpour said that “we cannot surrender to any system that deems only power-approved speech or thought is allowed.”
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=memorial&amp;utm_content=editorialmemorialday" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
She added that “this is not the first time the press, the fourth estate, has come under such sustained threat from the executive branch,” citing the Nixon administration challenging TV licenses held by The Washington Post following Watergate.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Harvard Kennedy School graduation speaker and CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour:
&#8220;We cannot surrender to any system that deems only power-approved speech or thought is allowed.” <a href="https://t.co/qXl8gx4XgA">pic.twitter.com/qXl8gx4XgA</a>
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) <a href="https://twitter.com/KassyAkiva/status/1927824825134834117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
Amanpour said Europe was willing to take in “those who are having their roles taken away,” a likely reference to either foreign students being stopped from attending Harvard or researchers that may lose their positions following a cut to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/harvard-loses-another-massive-chunk-of-federal-funding?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Harvard+Loses+Another+Massive+Chunk+Of+Federal+Funding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">federal funding</a> to the private university.
“As you know, we over there in Europe are happy to lay out the welcome mat to all of those here who are having their roles taken away,” she said. “ We want your scientists, your researchers, your professionals.”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/graduation-speaker-returns-honorary-degree-after-plagiarizing-speech-elite-womens-college?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Graduation+Speaker+Returns+Honorary+Degree+After+Plagiarizing+Speech+At+Elite+Women%E2%80%99s+College" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GRADUATION SPEAKER RETURNS HONORARY DEGREE AFTER PLAGIARIZING SPEECH AT ELITE WOMEN’S COLLEGE</a>
She added that the diversity, smarts, energy, and determination of foreign students are needed.
Amanpour also took a shot at Trump’s program to resettle Afrikaner refugees from South Africa in the United States, stating that she thinks about the legacy of Nelson Mandela when she sees &#8220;Afrikaner minorities, who were the perpetrators of apartheid, being brought into this country as refugees.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
During her speech at Harvard, Christiane Amanpour took a shot at Trump&#8217;s Afrikaner program, stating that she thinks about the legacy of Nelson Mandela when she sees &#8220;Afrikaner minorities, who were the perpetrators of apartheid, being brought into this country as refugees.” <a href="https://t.co/29IXoy5Ao7">pic.twitter.com/29IXoy5Ao7</a>
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) <a href="https://twitter.com/KassyAkiva/status/1927822153895821637?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
Amanpour has a long history of anti-Trump controversies, including in November 2020 when she compared the Trump presidency to to the Nazi Kristallnacht pogrom of 1938. Amanpour <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/i-regret-any-pain-christiane-amanpour-apologizes-for-comparing-trump-era-to-kristallnacht?author=Jon+Brown&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98I+Regret+Any+Pain%E2%80%99%3A+Christiane+Amanpour+Apologizes+For+Comparing+Trump+Era+To+Kristallnacht" target="_blank" rel="noopener">later apologized</a> following public outcry and condemnation from former Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Omer Yankelevich.
In 2016, Amanpour said <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/5M-805aTBIc">she was “shocked”</a> that Americans who voted for Trump ignored “the vulgarity of language, the sexual predatory behavior, the deep misogyny, the bigoted and insulting views.” In 2023, she <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/18/christiane-amanpour-columbia-cnn-town-hall-00097644?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confronted former</a> CNN CEO Chris Licht for hosting Trump for a townhall on the network, POLITICO reported.
Amanpour also challenged CNN&#8217;s leaders in 2024 over Israeli influence over the network&#8217;s coverage of the Israel-Hamas war that kicked off when the terror group massacred more than 1,000 Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023, Business Insider reported. CNN has faced <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cnn-blasted-for-report-on-israel-rearranging-weaponry-at-al-shifa-prior-to-news-crew-visits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">severe criticism</a> for its anti-Israel coverage since the war began.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/homeland-security-to-screen-immigrants-and-foreign-students-social-media-for-anti-semitism?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=29&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Homeland+Security+To+Screen+Immigrants+And+Foreign+Students%E2%80%99+Social+Media+For+Anti-Semitism">HOMELAND SECURITY TO SCREEN IMMIGRANTS AND FOREIGN STUDENTS’ SOCIAL MEDIA FOR ANTI-SEMITISM</a>
Between October 7, 2023, and November 17, 2023, Israel was accused of “genocide” or being “genocidal” 13 times on “Amanpour,” with Hamas only being accused of similar atrocities 3 times, <a href="https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/clay-waters/2023/11/22/ugly-tilt-pbss-amanpour-show-only-sees-genocide-israel-not?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Newsbusters</a>. 
In May 2023, Amanpour faced backlash after referring to a terrorist attack that killed a mother and her two daughters as a “shootout” during an interview with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. The victims — Lucy, Maia, and Rina Dee were shot by Hamas-linked terrorists while driving on a highway. Amanpour later apologized, saying she had “misspoke.” Rabbi Leo Dee, the husband and father of the victims, said he did not accept her apology, <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/cnn-anchor-amanpour-apologizes-for-calling-terror-attack-on-dee-family-a-shootout/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">The Times of Israel </a><a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/cnn-anchor-amanpour-apologizes-for-calling-terror-attack-on-dee-family-a-shootout/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
A 2007 documentary by Amanpour titled “God’s Jewish Warriors&#8221; <a href="https://www.jewishpost.com/viewpoints/cnn-and-christiane-amanpour-defame-israel.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">faced criticism</a> from the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America for &#8220;equating the extremely rare cases of religiously-inspired violence on the part of Christians and Jews with radical Islam&#8217;s global, often state-supported, campaigns of mass killing.”
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/harvard-cuts-ties-with-hamas-friendly-birzeit-university" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HARVARD CUTS TIES WITH HAMAS-FRIENDLY BIRZEIT UNIVERSITY</a>
Amanpour has had a four-decade career in television journalism, beginning at CNN in 1983. She has reported on international conflicts throughout her career and currently hosts “Amanpour,” CNN’s flagship global affairs interview program, and “The Amanpour Hour.”
“Anyone who follows world news recognizes her signature determination to cut through the noise and help her viewers better understand complex global events,” <a href="https://www.hks.harvard.edu/announcements/christiane-amanpour-will-deliver-2025-hks-graduation-address?utm_medium=socialmedia&amp;utm_source=hkstwitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said Kennedy School Dean</a> Jeremy Weinstein. “At this time of change and uncertainty, she is the perfect person to address the next generation of public servants as they graduate from Harvard Kennedy School.”
Amanpour, who was born in London to an Iranian father and British mother, was raised in Tehran before moving to the United States following the 1979 Iranian revolution.

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Harvard Hosts Anti-Trump, Anti-Israel CNN News Anchor As Grad Speaker

CONTINUE READING

Radical Arrested For Bomb Threat Against Erika Kirk

Chilling Post Adds New Twist To Ivanka Trump Assassination Plot

Rubio Outlines Vision For ‘New Cuba’ As Possible Raúl Castro Indictment Looms

They’ve Tried To Take Down Bibi Before. Here We Go Again.

Iran-Backed Terror Operative Brought To U.S. Over Plot Targeting American Jews

Sanctioned By China, Marco Rubio Represents America In Beijing

News

Donald Trump

Harvard

harvard kennedy school

Israel

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Harvard Hosts Anti-Trump, Anti-Israel CNN News Anchor As Grad Speaker