Courtesy of The Review
The event was sponsored by the Cornell Republicans in cooperation with Young America’s Foundation (YAF). Both organizations have long promoted conservative ideas at Cornell by hosting speakers such as former Governor Scott Walker (R-WI) and Daily Wire pundit, Michael Knowles.
Mr. Enzo De Oliveira–the Cornell Republicans’ President–began by introducing Mr. Shapiro and highlighting the importance Cornell Republicans have to campus, “for almost as long as Cornell has stood on this hill, our organization has proudly promoted the values that make this country great.”
During the first third of the event, Mr. Shapiro made the case for voting for former President Trump on November 5, 2024, even citing his own roundabout path to supporting the former President Trump, from not voting for either candidate in 2016, to actively fundraising for him in 2024. Mr. Shapiro would even go on to assert that the reality of presidential politics is less about character, and more about results, “I do not see [politicians] as great moral exemplars, but rather as plumbers. They are there to fix the toilet. And, if they fix the toilet, that’s pretty much the only thing I care about.” Shapiro spoke for 20 minutes, with the remainder of the hour devoted to audience questions.
As the event continued, Mr. Shapiro fielded questions ranging from LGBTQ+ rights, foreign policy, the electoral college, and the modern political discourse in the United States.
Mr. Shapiro was asked about “an epidemic of loneliness” in the US, and Mr. Shapiro explained why the government can’t help this problem.
Mr. Shapiro also claimed that “It has never been easier to be an adversary of the United States over the course of the Biden Administration than it was under Trump.”
Jason Mejia ‘26–one of the many attendees of the event–told the Review after Mr. Shapiro’s talk that he believed that the speech was good in highlighting alternative viewpoints on campus.
“Although I agree with Ben on a lot of things, I think this was a good opportunity for those who disagree to hear a refreshing perspective that isn’t often shared on campus” Mejia said. “Do I think it changed anything on campus? To be honest, not really, but I do think it is a good start.”
