CBS Anchor Melts Down Over Trump During College Commencement Speech [WATCH]

“60 Minutes” correspondent and author Scott Pelley used his commencement address at West Forest University on May 20 to sharply criticize President Donald Trump, claiming the rule of law, freedom of speech, journalism, and universities are “under attack” under the current administration.

The remarks come as Pelley’s employer, CBS News, and its flagship program “60 Minutes” face a multibillion-dollar lawsuit filed by Trump over alleged manipulation of an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris.

“But in this moment, this moment, this morning, our sacred rule of law is under attack,” Pelley said during the ceremony.

“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. They can make criminals heroes and heroes criminals. Power can change the definition of the words we use to describe reality.”

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Pelley also accused the Trump administration of altering the meaning of terms such as “diversity” and “equity” to align with its own policy objectives.

“This is an old playbook, my friends. There is nothing new in this,” he added.

🚨CBS/60 Minutes’ Scott Pelley raged at Trump in angry, unhinged commencement address at Wake Forest:

“In this moment, this morning, our sacred rule of law is under attack. Journalism is under attack. Universities are under attack. Freedom of speech is under attack.”

“And… pic.twitter.com/v8hagfQjbT

— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) May 26, 2025

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Pelley’s comments come in the midst of ongoing litigation between President Trump and CBS News. In October 2024, Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the network and “60 Minutes,” alleging that the program edited an interview with Kamala Harris in a way that misrepresented her response on Joe Biden’s Israel policy.

Remember Kamala’s word salad answer about Israel on 60 Minutes? It’s gone.

This is what many Americans will now see. pic.twitter.com/H4w7btDv6x

— MAZE (@mazemoore) October 8, 2024

The lawsuit was amended in February 2025, increasing the damages sought to $20 billion.

According to Trump’s legal team, the alleged manipulation of Harris’ remarks was intended to benefit her politically during the 2024 election cycle.

The controversy led to the resignation of “60 Minutes” Executive Producer Bill Owens in April.

Owens stated that he could no longer maintain journalistic independence under the current editorial oversight imposed by CBS News and its parent company, Paramount.

Pelley responded to the resignation by accusing CBS and Paramount of “meddling” with the editorial independence of “60 Minutes” journalists, claiming staff members were now being supervised “in new ways.”

On May 19, CBS News and Stations President and CEO Wendy McMahon announced her resignation in a memo to staff, citing what she called a “challenging time” for the network.

Paramount’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, reportedly expressed interest in settling the lawsuit with Trump as part of ongoing negotiations to sell Paramount to Skydance, a Hollywood studio.

The New York Times reported that Redstone is seeking Trump’s agreement as part of the potential acquisition process.

President Trump has continued to comment on the dispute publicly. In an April 14 post on Truth Social, Trump called “60 Minutes” and CBS News “fraudulent” and “beyond recognition.”

He also accused the program of engaging in election interference.

“I am so honored to be suing 60 Minutes, CBS Fake News, and Paramount, over their fraudulent, beyond recognition, reporting,” Trump wrote.

“They did everything possible to illegally elect Kamala, including completely and corruptly changing major answers to interview questions, but it just didn’t work for them. They are not a ‘News Show,’ but a dishonest Political Operative simply disguised as ‘News,’ and must be responsible for what they have done, and are doing.”

Almost every week, 60 Minutes, which is being sued for Billions of Dollars for the fraud they committed in the 2024 Presidential Election with their Interview of Failed Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris, mentions the name “TRUMP” in a derogatory and defamatory way, but this… pic.twitter.com/z7ucpadUEa

— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) April 14, 2025

Trump further called on the Federal Communications Commission to revoke CBS News’ license and to impose fines and penalties for what he described as a politically motivated effort to influence the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.

The FCC has not publicly responded to the request.

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