German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Harvard University graduates on Thursday to “tear down walls of ignorance and narrow-mindedness,” in what appeared to be a rebuke of President Donald Trump’s policies and rhetoric. During her commencement address at the university, Merkel warned against nationalist and isolationist sentiments that are adopted by Trump and right-wing groups in Europe. She also encouraged graduates to act on climate change and said to never “describe lies as truth and truth as lies,” a statement that resulted in a standing ovation.

‘Tear down walls of ignorance and narrowmindedness.' — Angela Merkel got a standing ovation for her rebuke of Trumpism at Harvard's commencement pic.twitter.com/mtYbZFX3Bk — NowThis (@nowthisnews) May 30, 2019

Speaking primarily in German, the chancellor criticized “walls” throughout her address, noting that her own life was significantly affected by the Berlin Wall that divided Germany while part of the country was still under communist rule. Merkel grew up in Soviet-ruled East Germany and said she saw how the wall separated her from democracy every day as a college student. She also talked about how walls exist “in people’s minds.” “Walls of narrow-mindedness and ignorance, they exist between family members, as well as between groups within the society,” she said. But the chancellor stressed that “walls can collapse” and that the challenges of the world can be resolved if people come together. “Dictatorships can disappear,” she said. “We can halt global warming. We can eradicate starvation. We can eliminate diseases. We can give people, especially girls, access to education. We can fight the causes of displacement and forced migration. We can do all of that.”

Scenes from #Harvard19 commencement where German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave the principal address. pic.twitter.com/eC8HZuB12d — Harvard University (@Harvard) May 30, 2019