Ken Burns attacked Donald Trump during a lengthy commencement speech at Stanford University.
On Sunday, the filmmaker addressed the class of graduates and implored them to “defeat the retrograde forces that have invaded the political system.” Burns asked them to “pledge” that they will save the “republic” from the Republican presidential candidate, according to Buzzfeed. (RELATED: Matt Damon Slams Donald Trump During Commencement Speech [VIDEO])
“For 216 years, our elections, though bitterly contested, have featured the philosophies and character of candidates who were clearly qualified,” he said. “That is not the case this year. One is glaringly not qualified. ”
“So before you do anything with your well-earned degree, you must do everything you can to defeat the retrograde forces that have invaded our democratic process, divided our house, to fight against, no matter your political persuasion, the dictatorial tendencies of the candidate with zero experience in the much maligned but subtle art of governance,” he added.
“A person who easily lies, creating an environment where the truth doesn’t seem to matter; who has never demonstrated any interest in anyone or anything but himself and his own enrichment; who insults veterans, threatens a free press, mocks the handicapped, denigrates women, immigrants, and all Muslims.”
He then placed the blame for Trump’s success on the media.
“Many of our media institutions have largely failed to expose this charlatan, torn between a nagging responsibility to good journalism and the big ratings a media circus always delivers,” he said.
“In fact, they have given him the abundant airtime he so desperately craves, so much so that it has actually worn down our natural human revulsion to this kind of behavior. Hey, he’s rich; he must be doing something right.”
“He is not,” he added. “Edward R. Murrow would have exposed this naked emperor months ago. He is an insult to our history.”