Harvard Lampoon Claims The Crimson Endorsed Trump at Pennsylvania Rally

The Harvard Lampoon impersonated members of The Harvard Crimson and distributed t-shirts that falsely claimed the newspaper’s editorial board had endorsed former U.S. President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pa. on Saturday.

Members of the Lampoon, a semi-secret Sorrento Square social organization that used to occasionally publish a so-called humor magazine, identified themselves as Crimson reporters in interviews with members of the press at the rally and gave away red t-shirts emblazoned with The Crimson’s stamp that stated “Trump for Truth.”

The prank marks the latest installment in a 123-year rivalry between The Crimson and the Lampoon, two student groups at Harvard that have a long history of pranking each other. In 2015, the Lampoon successfully orchestrated a photo-op with Trump, claiming to be Crimson staffers announcing their endorsement for his 2016 presidential bid.

The Crimson’s Editorial Board has never endorsed Trump. Crimson President J. Sellers Hill ’25 declined to comment on the Lampoon’s prank.

During an interview at the rally with Right Side Broadcasting, an American conservative media company, Lampoon president Sabrina M. “Rezzy” Reznik ’25 introduced herself as “Sellers” — falsely claiming to be The Crimson’s president.

“I’m here representing the Harvard Crimson,” Reznik said. “We just recently endorsed President Trump for the 2024 elections, the first time we’ve endorsed him.”

When asked about the possibility of being ostracized on campus for supporting Trump, Reznik responded that “it’s just vibes.”

Members of the Harvard Lampoon gave The Crimson's president's chair to U.S. President Donald Trump and claimed that the newspaper's editorial board had endorsed him as part of a prank during the 2016 presidential campaign. By FLYBY STAFF

“People are focused on tests and parties,” she added. “No one’s thinking too much about it.”

In addition to her interview with Right Side Broadcasting, Reznik also falsely claimed to be “Sellers” in an interview with a reporter for the New York Post.

Reznik did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Reznik told Right Side Broadcasting that she and her Lampoon colleagues were “giving out shirts to help the cause.”

“That's kind of the biggest thing,” she said. “Like, whatever shirt you’re wearing, generally signals what you're gonna vote for.”

“It’s really just vibes and have a good time and party,” Reznik added.

—Staff writer Hiral M. Chavre can be reached at hiral.chavre@thecrimson.com.

—Staff writer Samuel A. Church can be reached at samuel.church@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @samuelachurch.