Barack Obama delivered a commencement address at Rutgers University on Sunday, launching a stinging rebuke against a culture of isolationism and falsehood while defending factual knowledge and science. Speaking to a crowd of 40,000, the president targeted the rhetoric of Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump, though he did not mention him by name.
Obama criticised proposals to build a wall on the US-Mexico border, stating, 'A wall won't stop that.' He argued that helping others is essential, saying, 'We've got to help others, not pull up the drawbridge and try to keep the world out.' The president also took aim at willful ignorance in politics, declaring, 'In politics and in life, ignorance is not a virtue. It's not cool to not know what you're talking about.'
Addressing income inequality, Obama proposed closing tax loopholes for hedge fund managers and emphasised the importance of voting and accountability. He commented on the problems of money in politics and climate change, and urged graduates to pursue change despite challenges. 'It is your turn now to shape our nation's destiny as well as your own,' he said.
Obama also refuted rhetoric from both sides of the political spectrum, including the notion of a 'political revolution' alluded to by Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders. He defended the value of hearing from opposing viewpoints, referencing student protests against former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. 'The notion that this community would be better served by not hearing from a former secretary of state... I believe that's misguided,' he said.
The president concluded by urging graduates to resist nostalgia for the past, saying, 'Often, the good old days weren't that good.' He called for cooperation and hope over fear and paralysis, and encouraged students to hold leaders accountable and recognise the value of expertise.
