Veteran CBS News journalist Scott Pelley gave a powerful speech at Wake Forest University, where he criticized former President Donald Trump for spreading lies and trying to change how people see the past. Pelley said Trump is attacking the right to speak freely and creating fear among Americans.
In his speech, Pelley pointed out that the U.S. is facing serious challenges to its most important values. He said our legal system, news media, universities, and the right to free speech are all under pressure. He warned that fear is creeping into schools, workplaces, and even into the way people think privately.
Pelley didn’t mention Trump by name at every turn, but it was clear who he was referring to. He said those in power are trying to change the truth—making criminals look like heroes and making heroes look like villains. He warned that people in charge can even change the meaning of words to suit their own version of reality.
He added that this kind of strategy is not new. According to Pelley, Trump’s approach—criticizing diversity, equity, and inclusion as if they are bad things—is just a recycled playbook from the past. He said these ideas, which are meant to make society more fair and welcoming, are now being unfairly attacked.
Pelley’s comments came at a time when Trump’s administration had been taking steps that many saw as threatening to free speech, especially at universities. Trump had signed executive orders going after college policies that support diversity and inclusion, and he was involved in a legal battle with Harvard over the number of international students it enrolls.
Overall, Pelley used his platform to urge people to pay attention and stand up for truth, fairness, and the right to speak freely. He warned that staying silent could allow those in power to rewrite history and take away important freedoms.
