CNN Anchor Roasts Trump Fans ‘Triggered’ By Viral Grad Speech — That ‘Didn’t Mention Trump By Name’

CNN anchor Abby Phillip roasted Trump fans “triggered” by a commencement speech by CBS News anchor Scott Pelley in which he lambasted President Donald Trump, but never mentioned his name.

Pelley’s network and program are the subject of a blockbuster lawsuit by Trump that has roiled the company, but that didn’t hold the 60 Minutes anchor back when he delivered a scathing commencement address to Wake Forest University’s Class of 2025 that went viral this week when Trump supporters flipped out over it.

On Tuesday night’s edition of CNN NewsNight, Phillip was joined by Marc Short, Adrienne Elrod, Shermichael Singleton, Dan Koh, Tara Palmeri, and Hadas Gold to talk about the uproar.

Phillip noted that even though Trump wasn’t mentioned by name, MAGA fans were “triggered,” and suggested the criticism was on target because “a hit dog will holler”:

ABBY PHILLIP: Tonight, MAGA World is lashing out after veteran CBS News anchor Scott Pelley delivered what they believed to be an anti-Trump commencement speech at Wake Forest University.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT PELLEY: Our sacred rule of law is under attack. 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.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIP: Pelley did not mention Trump by name, but those words drew the ire of the MAGA faithful and Fox News host Laura Ingraham. She called the speech laughable and conservative podcaster Scott Adams described it as angry and unhinged.

Joining us in our fifth seat is CNN media correspondent, Hadas Gold. Hadas, the reason that this is notable is, of course, we know what Trump is doing when it comes to CBS.

HADAS GOLD: Yeah.

PHILLIP: And the idea that CBS journalists are being silenced in the Trump era so that their, you know, parent co can make a few bucks. It is so notable coming from him considering that he’s still there.

GOLD: I mean, not successfully silencing because “60 Minutes” to their credit is still continuing to do hard-hitting journalism on the Trump administration and on the many topics that “60 Minutes” covers despite pressure that they are facing from Paramount as Paramount seeks to have this deal.

But I think it was notable to see the sort of divide online. Either people thought Scott Pelley was unhinged or they were applauding him because, honestly, lately, not a lot of people are standing up for journalists. Like, when was the last time you really heard somebody fighting for free speech and for journalists?

I think a lot of reporters lately are feeling as though they’re worried who’s going to be the next corporate owner to capitulate to the Trump administration. We saw ABC settle. We’re all expecting CBS to settle sometime soon, and people at “The Washington Post” are fearful over what’s happened to the opinion section there.

And I think for a lot of reporters out there, it’s nice to hear somebody be so fired up over the defense of reporting, of defensive journalism, and over the defense of seeking the truth. And honestly, if you have a problem with what Scott Pelley was saying, sit down and actually read the speech and tell me, do you really have an issue with what he’s arguing for?

PHILLIP: I mean, it — it’s like they say, you know, a hit dog will holler. I mean, conservatives are very triggered by this, but maybe it’s because it rings true? I don’t know.

MARC SHORT, FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF TO VICE PRESIDENT PENCE: Look, I mean, I started the show criticizing the president, I’m comfortable doing that. But I also think that 90 percent of commensurate speakers are liberals. I’m not sure that journalists are in a press class right now.

I feel like, my wife is a Wake Forest alum and she was irritated when she saw it, too. Feeling like, can’t you give a commencing speak and giving people something encouraging as opposed to having to bring politics into it?

GOLD: There’s definitely a conversation to be had over how the media can and should, you know, learn from the past and — and change maybe the reporting and maybe we should, you know there’s things to say about changing, but to attack what Scott probably was saying and the arguments he’s making, I mean, there is these are very American arguments, and it’s true. People are afraid to speak up. I’m a reporter. I’m calling people all the time.

Even just experts, professors, and universities, they don’t want to be on the record. They are so afraid to even give a comment about something that might be unrelated to someone.

PHILLIP: And it’s kind of a continuation of the conversation we were having in the previous block because, really, what he’s talking about is the fear that’s seeping in because if you speak about things that are disfavored by this administration, it’s not just that they’re going to be mad at you. They’re going to try to use the government to punish you. And I think that’s what he’s talking about when he says there’s fear of speaking in this country.

Watch above via CNN NewsNight.