Ivanka Trump removed as commencement speaker due to ‘insensitive’ timing of George Floyd
The move to axe the president's daughter was made just hours after initially announcing her as the headlining speaker
Witchita State University in Kansas cancelled a virtual commencement address from Ivanka Trump on Thursday.
The decision was made mere hours after news of her speech went public, People reports.
Trump, the daughter and senior advisor to President Donald Trump, pre-recorded a video address for the graduates of Witchita State’s Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech) on Saturday, June 6.
The move to remove her as the headlining speaker came from WSU Tech President Dr. Sheree Utash, who released a statement on June 4.
READ MORE: Trump says George Floyd is looking down in awe of economy, draws outrage
Dr. Utash said that Trump was invited in February to headline the ceremony as a speaker, but recognized that her presence wouldn’t be appropriate during the current civil unrest in America.
“In light of the social justice issues brought forth by George Floyd’s death, I understand and take responsibility that the timing of the announcement was insensitive,’ Dr. Utash said the statement. “For this, I’m sorry that was never the intent, and I want you to know I have heard you and we are responding.”
Signs, artwork and flowers were placed by people showing up to pay their respects and to protest at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in South Minneapolis, in front of the CUP Foods where George Floyd died earlier in the week, Saturday, May 30 2020. (Scott Takushi / MediaNews Group / St. Paul Pioneer Press via Getty Images)
Trump’s father has come under fire for incendiary commentary regarding the nationwide protests for Floyd, who was killed while being violently detained by Minneapolis police, with one officer putting a knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
READ MORE: George Floyd’s brother says Trump wouldn’t let him speak during phone call
The president tweeted “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” in response to the rioting, and was flagged by Twitter for words that incited violence.
Dr. Utash has stated that WSU Tech nursing graduate Rebecca Zinabu would be the lone speaker for the school’s commencement in order to keep the focus on the “graduates and celebrating their accomplishments.”
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