Rex Tillerson gives commencement speech, warns of leaders who 'conceal the truth'
Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had some words of wisdom to impart upon the graduating class of 2018 at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, where he gave a commencement address Wednesday. Tillerson criticized the "growing crisis in ethics and integrity" in "the state of our American democracy," NBC News reported.
Tillerson, who was fired via a tweet from President Trump in March, strongly condemned leaders who "conceal the truth," saying that it could lead to "relinquishing our freedom." Despite never mentioning Trump or the administration outright, Tillerson's remarks seemed "laser-focused" on the president, The Hill reported.
It was previously reported that Tillerson called the president a "moron" while in office, and in his farewell address, he called Washington, D.C. a "mean-spirited town." Continuing that admonishment of Washington, the former secretary of state warned in his commencement speech that a lack of commitment to the truth "strikes at the very heart of a free society," and insisted that action is needed to prevent democracy from "entering its twilight years."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Read more of Tillerson's remarks at The Hill.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Shivani is the editorial assistant at TheWeek.com and has previously written for StreetEasy and Mic.com. A graduate of the physics and journalism departments at NYU, Shivani currently lives in Brooklyn and spends free time cooking, watching TV, and taking too many selfies.
-
The growing thirst for camel milk
Under the radar Climate change and health-conscious consumers are pushing demand for nutrient-rich product – and the growth of industrialised farming
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Good riddance to the televised presidential debate'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Caitlin Clark the No. 1 pick in bullish WNBA Draft
Speed Read As expected, she went to the Indiana Fever
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published