60 Minutes anchor Scott Pelley issues warning to graduates in commencement speech: “Universities are under attack”
In his speech to graduates at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina the 67-year-old condemned the actions of the Trump administration.
Journalist Scott Pelley - the host of CBS’ 60 Minutes show - has given a sharp rebuke of President Donald Trump during a commencement speech at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Pelley was appearing in front of graduates, friends and family members on Monday, May 19. The 67-year-old focused much of his criticism on the moves being made to curb the freedoms of universities and publications.
He made allusions to the attempts made to punish Harvard for failing to yield to demands to changes the university’s governance, leadership and admissions policies.
“In this moment, this morning, our sacred rule of law is under attack. Journalism is under attack. Universities are under attack. Freedom of speech is under attack.”
Pelley continued: “Insidious fear is reaching through our schools, our businesses, our homes and into our private thoughts.
More broadly, Pelley warned that the Trump administration has stifled public freedoms, particularly the freedom of speech. Trump has threatened to revoke the visas of international students who are involved in campus protests and has already attempted to enact flash deportations.
“The fear to speak... in America,” was how Pelley described the controversial actions. “Power can rewrite history, with grotesque, false narratives. They can make criminals heroes, and heroes criminals.”
“Power can change the definition of the words we use to describe reality. Diversity is now described as illegal. Equity is to be shunned. Inclusion is a dirty word. This is an old playbook, my friends. There is nothing new in this.”
Pelley is still a prominent voice with CBS News and his comments will do nothing to ease the tensions between the network and the Trump White House. There is already a pending lawsuit after Trump’s team sued CBS over an episode of 60 Minutes featuring Kamala Harris.
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