'Truth is in jeopardy,' Politico journalist Jonathan Lemire tells FSU grads

WORCESTER — Cheers overwhelmed boos on Sunday, when Framingham State University's commencement speaker, journalist Jonathan Lemire, told graduates "truth is in jeopardy now."

"We can all do our part to save it," said Lemire. "No matter what political party, no matter which candidate you support."

Speaking at the DCU Center in Worcester, Lemire, the White House bureau chief at Politico, recounted his time covering former President Donald Trump — from his now-famous trip down a golden escalator to announce his presidential run to the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.

The crowd broke into jeers and then applause, as Lemire said the former president pushed misinformation to promote the falsehood he won the 2020 presidential election.

"The disinformation, to be clear, it didn't begin with Trump," Lemire said. "But he threw gasoline on the fire. The undermined trust and his big lie has put our democracy in the most tenuous place it's been in more than 150 years."

Everyone can play a role in fighting misinformation, said Lemire. He urged graduates to ask tough questions, break away from social media, and seek out other viewpoints.

"What will happen, you will realize that other person is another human, someone whom you can disagree with but still respect... that's the kind of thing that happens face-to-face," said Lemire.

Lemire, a Lowell native, also serves as a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC and is a frequent guest on "Morning Joe," "Deadline White House with Nicolle Wallace" and "The 11th Hour."

He is writing a book, “THE BIG LIE: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics after 2020," due to be published by Flatiron Books in July. 

Framingham State conferred 710 bachelor's degrees and another 472 graduate degrees during the Sunday morning ceremony, according to Daniel Magazu, the university's director of communications.

Lemire also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, while Richard Logan '70 and Mary (Driscoll) Logan '71 received the President's Medal and Warren Griffin '73 received the Citizen Laureate Award.

One joint commencement ceremony was held for both undergraduate and graduate students on Sunday.

Framingham State always held one joint ceremony prior to 2010. The ceremonies were separated only when the school's enrollment spiked as the nation emerged from the Great Recession.

Before Lemire's speech, Samantha Collette, the undergraduate senior class president, told fellow classmates that she's realized how COVID-19 made her eagerly await the future instead of appreciating the present.

More:In university reversal, Framingham State class president will speak onstage

"As you wait for your name to be called today, try not to make the moments rush by. Even in the anticipation and excitement, you're still able to slow down and enjoy these moments with your peers," she said.

Collette was originally not scheduled to speak onstage. The university had planned for her to speak backstage as graduates waited as a way to keep the ceremony's length down. But the decision was eventually reversed on May 11 — the same day the Daily News published a story in which Collette expressed disappointment over being relegated to a backstage speech.

University President Javier Cevallos told the crowd he "never (ceases) to be amazed by the resilience and grace you demonstrate to make it to this day." It was his final time presiding over commencement, as he will retire in August after eight years in Framingham.

"It has truly been an honor serving this institution... I feel very fortunate to have gotten the chance to get to know so many of you," said Cevallos. "It has been a pleasure watching you in the classroom, on the stage, or the fields." 

Zane Razzaq writes about education. Reach her at 508-626-3919 or zrazzaq@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @zanerazz.