Aaron Sorkin Tears Into Donald Trump in 'Network'-Like Awards Speech (Video)

As “West Wing” creator Aaron Sorkin accepted an award named for Paddy Chayefsky on Sunday, he sounded like one of the “Network” screenwriter’s characters: He was mad as hell at President Donald Trump and not gonna take it any more.

He urged a room filled with Writers Guild of America writers — “old and young, black and white, gay and straight, wealthy and struggling, and yes, liberal and conservative,” he said — to write stories that will change the state of the country.

“The most powerful delivery system ever invented for an idea is a story,” he said.

Also Read: Read Aaron Sorkin's Anti-Trump Tirade at WGA Awards

Sorkin was introduced by Jeff Daniels, star of Sorkin’s “The Newsroom,” as he received the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement at the Writers Guild Awards on Sunday.

Chayefsky’s most famous line in “Network” comes when unhinged news anchor Howard Beale tells viewers to get mad at the country’s problems — to stand up and say, “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take this any more!”

Sorkin wasn’t very happy at the state of the nation, either. He said that since he often writes about politics, some people assumed he might have “something to say about the situation in which we currently find ourselves.”

“It’ll come as no surprise that I do,” he said. “So, in the spirit of Paddy Chayefsky, here goes.”

Also Read: Fox News Defends Media to Reince Priebus: 'You Don't Get to Tell Us What to Do' (Video)

“We’ve been told that as coastal elites we’re something less than real Americans and that we’re out of touch,” the “Few Good Men” writer began.

“If you find it mind-boggling that living and working in the two largest cities in America makes you less than a real American, you are not the one who’s out of touch,” he said.

From there he defended war refugees, challenged climate-change deniers, and mocked Trump’s contention that more than 3 million people voted illegally in the 2016 presidential election, saying that Trump, not the coastal elites he has railed against, was “out of touch.” (You can read the full text here.)

He also defended the news media — which Trump branded an “enemy” of the American people on Friday — and mocked the credibility of one of Trump’s favorite shows, “Fox & Friends.”

You can watch the full video above.

8 Stars Who Say Trump Opponents Should Just Get Over It (Photos)

Donald Trump's presidency has largely been met with resistance from Hollywood stars, but a few have taken a different path. Objections to Trump's detractors range from apolitical calls for unity to outright criticism of those protesting in the streets.
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Karl Lagerfeld

Lagerfeld, a German fashion designer and artist, made it clear in an interview with WSJ Magazine in February that American politics is not his area of expertise, but he encouraged Trump critics to come around to the new president.

"I’m not American," he said, "but he’s a democratically elected president … so people have to deal with it.”
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Lindsay Lohan
In a Facebook Live interview with the Daily Mail in February, Lohan encouraged people to "join" Donald Trump.

“I think always in the public eye you’re gonna be scrutinized, and he is the president," she said. "We have to join him. If you can’t beat him, join him."

She added, "You know, I think it would be a positive thing for America to show their care and support, and for him to experience what it's like for these people... experience how giving Turkey has been to the refugees and how many they have welcomed in."
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Nicole Kidman

A few weeks before Donald Trump's inauguration, "Lion" star Nicole Kidman took some backlash for saying that Americans "need to support whoever the president is." The actress, who holds dual U.S. and Australian citizenship, later clarified that her comments were simply a call for unity and support of democracy.

Also Read: Nicole Kidman Clarifies Her Position on Trump: ‘I Believe in Democracy’
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Matthew McConaughey

During the press tour for his movie "Gold," Matthew McConaughey told the U.K.'s ChannelIFI that it's time for Americans to "embrace" Trump. "It's time to think about how constructive can you be because he's our president," McConaughey said.

Also Read: Matthew McConaughey Says ‘It’s Time to Embrace’ President Trump (Video)
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Bret Easton Ellis

"American Psycho" author Bret Easton Ellis accused Trump protesters of "overreaction" at the opening of his art exhibit in London, according to the Irish Examiner. "I don't really know what the path to power is with protest, it's done, this is where we are," the author said, accusing protesters, social media and celebrities of "aiding" divisiveness.
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Cyndi Lauper
Madonna took some criticism for her profanity-laden speech at the Women's March, where she said that she's "thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House" following Trump's inauguration. Among those denouncing her statements was Cyndi Lauper, who said "anger is not better than clarity and humanity."

Also Read: Cyndi Lauper Doesn’t Think Madonna’s Women’s March Speech ‘Served Our Purpose’ (Video)
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Jennifer Holliday
"Dreamgirls" star Jennifer Holliday dropped out of performing at Trump's inauguration after taking heated backlash from those pledging to boycott the event entirely. After apologizing to her fans, Holliday later explained that she thought her performance could've been an act of "healing and unity."

Also Read: Jennifer Holliday Pulls Out of Trump Inauguration, Apologizes to LGBT Community (Exclusive)
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Dave Chappelle
When comedian Dave Chappelle returned to host "Saturday Night Live" after the presidential election in November, he encouraged Trump detractors to "give him a chance," adding that "we, the historically disenfranchised, demand that he give us one too."

Also Read: Watch Dave Chappelle Say He’ll Give Trump A Chance In ‘SNL’ Monologue (Video)
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From Nicole Kidman’s call for “support” to Matthew McConaughey saying Americans need to “embrace” the new president

Donald Trump's presidency has largely been met with resistance from Hollywood stars, but a few have taken a different path. Objections to Trump's detractors range from apolitical calls for unity to outright criticism of those protesting in the streets.

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