The head of the University of Alabama College Democrats is calling the reaction to their criticism about President Donald Trump’s visit on May 1 as “very weird,” and that they have no plans to “bow down to him like some sort of king or God.”

The reaction from Brandon Vick, president of the UA Democrats, comes after Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, in a social media post, said the college organization’s reaction to the president’s visit was akin to a “childish tantrum.”

A change.org petition, posted on Wednesday, had over 5,000 signatures opposed to Trump’s commencement appearance.

“Commencement is a time to honor the hard work, dedication, and achievements of our graduating students—not to serve as a platform for political polarization,” the petition states.

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“Moreover, we are deeply concerned about the potential impact his participation could have on the well-being and sense of safety among students of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and other marginalized members of our campus community.

“The values and rhetoric associated with President Trump do not reflect the inclusive and respectful environment we strive to uphold at the University of Alabama.”

The University of Alabama College Republicans, also in a social media post, blasted the UA Democrats as “radical leftist counterparts” whose opinions do not reflect the entirety of the university.

The polarizing reactions come after Trump, on Monday, announced on Truth Social that he will be delivering a commencement address on campus. The address will be a special ticketed event at the Coleman Coliseum and is separate from other commencement ceremonies that will occur from May 2 through May 4.

While logistics are still being worked out, the Trump event will be open to spring 2024 graduates.

The UA Democrats, on social media Tuesday, blasted the president’s visit, and called him an “unpopular, divisive, and authoritarian” president.

“This insult will not go unanswered,” the College Democrats said. “We cannot allow this to happen with our commencement ceremonies.”

The group also criticized the last time Trump visited campus, in September during the Alabama-Georgia football game. The UA Democrats blamed Trump for turning the game into a “political sideshow.”

“We cannot allow this to happen to our commencement ceremonies,” the post reads.

The college Democrats also claim that the university students supported former Vice President Kamala Harris last November. In an email to AL.com, the group said that in the three major campus area precincts — UA Student Recreation Center, Forest Lake Methodist Church, and Tuscaloosa County Courthouse Annex – Harris won by 14, 20, and 34 votes, respectively, Trump.

Ainsworth, the No. 2 political figure in the state who is considering a 2026 run for governor, shot back with an X post comparing the college Democrats to the national party.

“The University of Alabama College Democrats have taken a page from the radical playbook we see used on liberal campuses in other states,” he said.

“Having the sitting President of the United States address your class at commencement is an honor. Their childish tantrum is tone deaf.”

The UA Republicans, in its Facebook post, said they were disappointed in the college Democrats and their response, calling the group “radical leftists.”

“It’s very weird how Republicans across the state, whether that be Lt. Gov. Ainsworth or the UA College Republicans, have made it a point to pathetically whine about our reaction to Trump’s commencement rally, as if we’re supposed to bow down to him like some sort of king or God himself,” Vick said in an email to AL.com.

“The last time I checked, neither Alabama nor America has any kings.”

Vick said the UA Democrats offered a similar statement of criticism at Democratic Senator Minority Leader Chuck Schumer last month for his cloture vote that allowed the GOP to pass a continuing resolution.

“They were silent when we told our national Democratic leaders to stand up for us, and now they’re melting down because we asked our university’s leaders to do the same,” Vick said.