CBS’s Scott Pelley Under Fire From Trump Fans Over Commencement Address on Free Speech
CBS News reporter and journalist Scott Pelley has gone viral for his commencement address at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, where he spoke on Monday, May 19, and seemingly took aim at Donald Trump.
Pelley’s speech addressed the current political climate in the United States. “Our sacred rule of law is under attack,” Pelley stated. “Journalism is under attack. Universities are under attack. Freedom of speech is under attack, and insidious fear is reaching through our schools, our businesses, our homes, and into our private thoughts.”
“The fear to speak in America. Power can rewrite history with grotesque false narratives,” Pelley continued. He noted that an attack on freedom of speech “can make criminals heroes, and heroes criminals.”
Pelley also addressed an attack on diversity practices, as he said, “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.”
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) May 26, 2025 at 11:05 AM
The speech never named Donald Trump, but Pelley’s words were clear in their allusion to the president’s administration and practices. As readers may recall, Donald Trump signed several executive orders during the first few days and weeks of his second term, some of which took aim at universities. The White House website suggests that certain schools “abused their authority by imposing discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-based standards.”
Most recently, Trump took aim at Harvard University, threatening to remove federal funding from the prestigious school after it refused to alter its DEI practices to appease him.
Pelley’s speech, above, has riled up Trump supporters (see their reactions below), despite him not naming the president in his speech.
If ever there was a reason to stop watching 60 Minutes watch Scott Pelley’s address to the graduates of Wake Forest. His misguided address does everything to uninspire the graduates and sets a disgusting tone of apathy and doubt. Thank God people write his scripts on 60 minutes.
— Dwight Darling (@darl79548) May 24, 2025
Scott Pelley at Wake Forest was like an arsonist calling in a fire! Scott Pelley is responsible for the corruption in the downfall of Legacy Media and no one else is to blame except for themselves! pic.twitter.com/JhDQKGaXqp
— jack stoker (@styxstoker) May 27, 2025
But Tom Jones for Poynter defended Pelley’s angle, as he wrote, “Trump sued ABC. He is suing CBS. He has barred The Associated Press from certain access. He is seeking to cut funding for places such as Voice of America, NPR, and PBS. On a nearly daily basis, Trump insults reporters if he doesn’t like their legitimate questions and rails against them on social media. That’s not an attack on journalism?”
What did you think of Pelley’s speech? Let us know in the comments section, and see the full address here.
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P
Let’s give one to all of them- all media, the president, all of congress and the senate - left or right. Then we’ll talk. Everyone has an agenda or perspective and most times, it is skewed to fit their narrow viewpoint. In my opinion, they are all guilty of attacking, fabricating, defending, redirecting, taking things out of context or just outright lying. It is not just one side.
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R
Thank you, Scott, for standing up for all of America! It is only when we all have access to free speech, education and human rights like voting and due process that America will be herself again
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G
How about giving the Trumper a polygraph. You would have to call the fire department to put out the sparks!!!!!
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Scott is full of crap!
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C
Scott Pelley has every right to give this speech. As far as I know, the First Amendment is still in force (for now), and that Amendment covers Pelley & CBS on two counts: the right to speak freely, and the freedom of the press.
I hope the graduates appreciated his comments.
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Hard to take you seriously when any simple look will show that undocumented people can't vote in federal elections. Feel free to show any case where more than a few people (illegally) voted and swayed any election.
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Scott Pelley made me laugh so hard!
Thats one master class in Projection after what we've been through the past four miserable years!
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