Imagine a graduation ceremony where the guest speaker uses the opportunity to blast the current president and warn the newly minted graduates about the dangers of fear and division.
That’s exactly what happened when Scott Pelley, the longtime anchor of “60 Minutes,” took the stage at Wake Forest University in North Carolina.
A Fear-Laced Tirade Against Trump
Pelley’s speech was met with scattered applause, but it was largely criticized on social media for being “angry” and “unhinged.”
He warned the graduating class of 2025 that “insidious fear” has infiltrated every aspect of American life, from schools to businesses to homes.
He urged the graduates to take action, saying “your country needs you – the country that has given you so much is calling you, and it needs you today.”
The State of America: Under Attack
Pelley’s speech painted a dire picture of America, where the rule of law, journalism, universities, and freedom of speech are all under attack.
He claimed that fear is stifling free speech and that the government is manipulating reality by changing the definition of words.
He called on the graduates to speak out against this perceived onslaught, asking “if our government is of the people, by the people, for the people, then why are we afraid to speak?”
The Backlash on Social Media
The reaction to Pelley’s speech was swift and brutal on social media. Many users took to X to express their outrage, with one user calling him “self-important” and a “sermonizing propagandist.”
Another user, Juanita Broaddrick, who has been a vocal critic of the Clintons, called Pelley “a pompous POS.”
Others pointed out the hypocrisy of Pelley’s speech, given that his network is currently facing a $20 billion lawsuit from Trump over the editing of a “60 Minutes” interview.
The Hypocrisy of Pelley’s Speech
The lawsuit, which was filed over the editing of a sit-down interview with Kamala Harris, has sparked accusations of bias against the network.
Many users felt that Pelley’s speech was hypocritical, given that his network is accused of manipulating the truth.
As one user put it, “until he addresses the fact that 60 Minutes edited Kamala’s interview, his credibility is zero.”
The Broader Implications
The controversy surrounding Pelley’s speech highlights the deep divisions in American society.
It’s a reminder that the media is not immune to criticism and that the public is increasingly skeptical of the information they receive.
As the country navigates these treacherous waters, it’s clear that the role of the media will be scrutinized more closely than ever before.
Will Scott Pelley’s speech be seen as a call to action, or a partisan rant? Only time will tell.
