After losing the 2016 Presidential Election, Hillary Clinton has mostly remained out of the spotlight (despite how often right-wing media tries to pull her back in). During her commencement speech at Yale University on Sunday, May 20th, she pulled a stunt that guaranteed she’d make headlines Monday morning – and she did.
“I see, looking out at you, that you are following the tradition of over the top hats,” Hillary Clinton says at Yale University's Class Day. “So I brought a hat, too: A Russian hat” #tictocnews pic.twitter.com/Vxdlf8eFCx
— TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) May 20, 2018
“I brought a hat too,” Clinton says to the crowd of graduates and attendees before pulling out an ushanka, “a Russian hat.” As the Yale graduates cheered for the former Secretary of State, Clinton topped off her jab at President Trump with, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”
If a country other than Russia had “hacked” Hillary Clinton’s election loss, what would she have worn to Yale’s graduation ceremony this weekend? Mexico – sombrero? Israel – yarmulke? France – beret? UK – bowler? Turkey – fez? Afghanistan – pakol? So many options.
— Kevin Rothrock (@KevinRothrock) May 21, 2018
As expected, not everyone thought the joke was hilarious. Then again, James Woods appears to be stuck with a perpetual scowl.
Did she wear it as she guzzled her daily fifth of Russian vodka? https://t.co/Mc0VEjQ8vf
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) May 21, 2018
Hillary Clinton trolled Trump by holding up a Russian hat at a Yale graduation speech. Trump trolled Clinton back by continuing to be President of the United States.
— MAD Magazine (@MADmagazine) May 21, 2018
Clinton, a graduate of Yale Law School, delivered a commencement speech filled with encouragement for the class, encouraging them to remain resilient against what the world throws at them and “contribute meaningfully to the future of democracy.”
My plan to wear a Hillary Clinton campaign placard as my class day hat surprisingly worked out. It was amazing to hear @HillaryClinton speak at this year’s class day at @Yale — perfect way to end college after I spent my junior year on her campaign! @ReachHigher #Yale2018 pic.twitter.com/cuK15rh1xz
— Ryan Liu (@RyanLiu95) May 20, 2018
Of course, she took the opportunity to throw in a few jokes and references to the scandals she faced while running against Donald Trump. “If you thought my emails were scandalous you should hear my singing voice,” Clinton quipped, referencing the infamous email scandal that rocked her campaign late in the race. She then went on to joke that she buried a tape of her rocking it acapella “so deeply that not even WikiLeaks would be able to find it.”
Will the media mention how funny Hillary Clinton was during parts of her Yale commencement speech this weekend? Nah, probably not
— MB⚖️ (@imwithher61) May 21, 2018
In between urging the Yale students to vote and call out “fake news,” Clinton briefly discussed her 2016 loss, stating, “No, I’m still not over it. I still think about the 2016 election, I still regret the mistakes I made.” Despite her jokes towards President Trump, Clinton spoke about her concern for the United States. “We’re living through a time when fundamental rights, civic virtue, freedom of the press, even facts and reason are under assault like never before.”
Hillary Clinton tells students to bridge the political divide with 'radical empathy' in Yale Class Day speech https://t.co/Btrtm2FWR8 pic.twitter.com/FwSqeqGxvK
— TIME (@TIME) May 21, 2018
“At this moment in our history, our country depends on every citizen believing in the power of their actions even when that power is invisible and their efforts feel like an uphill battle,” Clinton stated, referencing the importance of voting and the power of one voice.
Listening to Hillary Rodham Clinton's Class Day address @Yale. She's not perfect but the contrast between this intelligent, articulate and thoughtful person and the incumbent of the White House is no less galling with time, it's more so.
— Andrew McGowan (@Praxeas) May 20, 2018
H/T: Huffington Post, Twitter
