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.”
