As Mark Twain once famously said, you can't believe everything you read on the internet, and it seems you also need to start questioning quotes you hear in graduation speeches.
At the Bell County High School commencement this weekend in Pineville, Kentucky, valedictorian Ben Bowling, 18, pulled a bait-and-switch, telling the audience: "This is the part of my speech where I share some inspirational quotes I found on Google. 'Don't just get involved. Fight for your seat at the table. Better yet, fight for a seat at the head of the table.' Donald J. Trump."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
At home with the Clooneys: is arguing with your partner healthy?The actor and his wife claim to have never argued during their 10-year marriage
-
Quiz of The Week: 19 - 25 AprilHave you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
The Week Unwrapped: Why was Pope Francis controversial in Argentina?Podcast Plus, could marriage increase your risk of dementia? And what is the true cost of that viral pistachio chocolate?
-
A dozen states sue Trump to halt tariffsSpeed Read The states sued in the US Court of International Trade, seeking to stop tariffs they say will damage their economies
-
Trump blames Zelenskyy for peace deal setbacksSpeed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected the US proposal, which includes Russia's takeover of Crimea
-
Musk vows DOGE pullback as Tesla profits plungeSpeed Read The Tesla SEO says he will soon step back from government matters to devote more time to the company
-
IMF sees slump from tariffs, Trump tries to calm marketsSpeed Read The International Monetary Fund predicts the U.S. and global economies will slow significantly due to the president's trade war
-
DHS chief Kristi Noem's purse stolen from eaterySpeed Read Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's purse was stolen while she dined with family at a restaurant in Washington, D.C.
-
Trump stands by Hegseth amid ouster reportsSpeed Read The president dismissed reports that he was on the verge of firing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over a second national security breach
-
Hegseth reportedly shared war plans in 2nd group textSpeed Read The defense secretary sent information about an attack in Yemen to a Signal group chat that included his wife and brother
-
Judge threatens Trump team with criminal contemptSpeed Read James Boasberg attempts to hold the White House accountable for disregarding court orders over El Salvador deportation flights
