‘60 Minutes’ Reporter Rips Into Trump In Viral Commencement Speech

Journalist Scott Pelley accused President Donald Trump of “attacking” free speech and spreading “insidious fear” among the public during a commencement address at Wake Forest University. The speech came as concerns grow over the country’s free speech rights amid Trump’s targeted attacks aimed at universities over a range of topics, including diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices and foreign students’ enrollment. Trump and Harvard University are currently embroiled in a heated legal battle over its enrollment of foreign students. “Our sacred rule of law is under attack,” Pelley began his message. “Journalism is under attack. Universities are under attack. Freedom of speech is under attack, and insidious fear is reaching through our schools, our businesses and into our private thoughts.” The veteran CBS News reporter continued, “The fear to speak in America ... power can rewrite history with grotesque false narratives.” Without name-dropping, Pelley went on to say that “they can make criminals heroes, and heroes criminals.” “Power can change the definition of the words we use to describe reality,” he added. Pelley then said that the “old playbook” the Trump administration is operating from is “nothing new.” “Diversity is now described as illegal. Equity is to be shunned. Inclusion is a dirty word,” he declared. “This is an old playbook, my friends. There is nothing new in this.” The Trump administration sparked concern by signing a series of executive orders within the first few weeks of his second term, with some of them aimed at universities. One of the orders accused college and university accreditors of having “abused their authority by imposing discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-based standards,” the White House said.Watch Pelley’s speech below. BREAKING: In a stunning moment, renowned journalist Scott Pelley just highlighted how Donald Trump is working to stifle free speech in America, and how he plans on fighting back. This is huge.— Democratic Wins Media (@democraticwins.bsky.social)2025-05-26T15:05:22.399Z

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