Washington: United States President Barack Obama took aim at presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during the commencement address at Rutgers University and told the graduates to flaunt their knowledge, not brag about their ignorance.
Even though he did not name Trump directly, the President’s target was quite clear.
“In politics and in life, ignorance is not a virtue. It’s not cool to not know what you’re talking about. That’s not keeping it real or telling it like it is. That’s not challenging political correctness. That’s just not knowing what you’re talking about. And yet we’ve become confused about this,” he told the more than 12,000 graduates in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
According to CNN, Obama’s comments at Rutgers echo similar shots he’s taken at Trump, without naming him, during recent appearances.
The President also told the graduates to stand up to those who say that America was better in the past and dismissed the idea of building walls.
“I guess it’s part of human nature — especially in times of change and uncertainty — to want to look backwards and long for some imaginary past when everything worked, and the economy hummed and all politicians were wise and every child was well-mannered and America pretty much did whatever it wanted around the world. Guess what? It ain’t so. The good old days weren’t all that good,” Obama said.
He also challenged the notion that Muslims should be banned from the United States, something Trump proposed in December.
“Isolating or disparaging Muslims, suggesting that they should be treated differently when it comes to entering this country, that is not just a betrayal of our values. That’s not just a betrayal of who we are — it would alienate the very communities at home and abroad who are our most important partners in the fight against extremism,” the President said. (ANI)