Did Obama’s speech at Rutgers focus too much on politics?

While many people were excited and praised President Barack Obama for his commencement speech - in which he took obvious jabs at Donald Trump - others felt the speech focused too much on politics.

Hannah Dodd, a Western Kentucky graduate who watched the speech from the Rutgers Student Center, enjoyed the speech despite not "being into politics."

"I liked the stuff that was relatable to the Rutgers students," said Dodd, adding that her favorite part of commencement was "how excited all of the students were" whenever the President was shown on screen.

Alex Dellemonache, a Savannah College of Art and Design student, was watching from the Student Center because his brother was the graduating class but could only get three tickets. He found it equal parts "cool and inconvenient" that Obama was the speaker, because he missed out on actually being in the stadium for his brother's graduation.

Dellemonache said his brother earned a degree in sports management and has an internship lined up. Dellemonache found Obama's speech interesting but noted that "it seemed to be more about politics than the graduating class."

Before, during and after the speech, many people took to social media to express their thoughts about the commencement and Obama's remarks.

Commenters on the NJ 101.5 Facebook page showed disappointment in the fact that Obama used the commencement address as a political platform.

"He needs to just go AWAY sit down and shut up. The mess he has made for these kids is what he should've spoken about. His class of politicians has made for future generations is sickening," Ted Peake said on the NJ 101.5 Facebook page.

"I find it really sad that he took a chance to inspire graduates and instead used it to poke jabs at a Presidential candidate and further his own agenda," Claudia Canonica said. "A graduation speech isn't about HIM, it's about the graduates, their accomplishments, their hard work, their future. Inspire them to go make a difference in this world without making it a political speech."

Facebook commenter Deborah May Lloyd said while the event itself was impressive, Obama's political posturing caused the event to go "sour."

"I was glad the PRESIDENT was doing the commencement speech at Rutgers. All was well till he got into a political agenda. Theme things got sour......I literally tuned him out but impressive to witness the event. Rage against him all you want but he is our President......until another comes along. And THAT will be another four long years," Lloyd said.

In addition to those who attended the commencement, and commented on social media New Jersey 101.5’s Bill Spadea and Mike Symons of New: Jersey Decoded participated in a live chat during which we asked listeners to weigh in on the President's address.

At one point during the speech, Obama said the country is better off than it was 50 or even "eight years ago." He spoke of gender equality and equal pay.

"Here we go with the false narrative about 'equal pay'...ugh...," Spadea commented in the chat.

In response to the President's comments about lower poverty levels, Symons commented that "the poverty rate is higher now than it was when Obama took office -- 13.2% in 2008, 14.8% in 2014 (most recent #)."

Kylie Moore contributed to this report.

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.