Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns' rare warning during a commencement speech about former President Donald Trump, sparked outrage from supporters of Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement this weekend.
Trump and President Joe Biden became the presumptive 2024 Republican and Democratic presidential nominees respectively in March as both continue to campaign ahead of November's presidential election.
Last Sunday, Burns, known for documenting American history and culture, gave a commencement speech at Brandeis University's 73rd Commencement ceremony in which he addressed the 2024 election and warned against a second Trump term.
In the speech, Burns, who has mainly been viewed as being politically neutral, which he noted before he commented on the upcoming presidential election, stated there is "no real choice this November," adding a warning against a second Trump term.
"Brings me to a moment I've dreaded and forces me to suspend my longstanding attempt at neutrality. There is no real choice this November. There is only the perpetuation, however flawed and feeble you might perceive it, of our fragile 249-year-old experiment or the entropy that will engulf and destroy us if we take the other route," Burns said.
Although Burns did not name Trump directly, Burns continued by stating the "presumptive Republican nominee is the opioid of all opioids."
"An easy cure for what some believe is the solution to our myriad pains and problems. When in fact with him, you end up re-enslaved with an even bigger problem, a worse affliction and addiction. Do not be seduced by easy equalization. There is nothing equal about this equation. We are at an existential crossroads in our political and civic lives. This is a choice that could not be clearer," Burns added.
Burns' speech was the target of pushback and criticism by some on X, formerly Twitter.
Newsweek has reached out to Burns via online form for comment.
Former U.S. Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General Jeff Clark criticized Burns for "pumping the Brandeis students" with political views.
"His commencement address at Brandeis is a disgrace. He could have booked a venue and given an anti-Trump speech at a vast array of private venues. He shouldn't be pumping the Brandeis students full of his political views. Students should get to make their own choices. Brandeis should lose all of its federal funding for allowing this blatant politicking to happen. But we can be certain the Biden Administration will do nothing," Clark wrote on X.
Former Republican Georgia State Rep. Vernon Jones also took aim at Burns calling the speech "disgraceful."
"Ken Burns should be ashamed of himself. Who ordained him as the political prophet for the Class of 2024. He made the speech more about @JoeBiden non future than the graduates who are the future. His attempt to steer graduates to vote for @JoeBiden won't save America's future. However, Burns' disgraceful speech will add to Biden's already successful efforts to further divide this country," Jones wrote on X.
Meanwhile, author and podcaster Derek Hunter criticized Burns for being neutral as he claimed Burns has not been writing on X, "You'd have to be a special kind of stupid to believe @KenBurns is or has ever been remotely neutral."
Burns also received support for his speech as others thanked him for the message.
"Holy cow. Ken Burns 'suspends [his] longstanding attempt at neutrality' & says Donald Trump is the 'opioid of all opioids' & the choice 'could not be clearer' this election. This is what we need. Thank you, Ken Burns. Watch & share."
Political strategist Rachel Bitecofer wrote on X, "Deeply grateful that @KenBurns is putting his career on the line to take a stand for American democracy. As he says, either you're voting to continue the American experiment this fall, or you're helping MAGA kill it. Choice is yours."
Meanwhile, Democratic candidate for New York's First Congressional District John Avlon wrote on X, "I love a good graduation speech - and this is one of the very best I've ever heard. A short clip of it has gone viral, as it should. But listen to every word. It is profound and timeless and incredibly urgent. Thank you."
Update 5/28/24, 6:20 p.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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