Aaron Sorkin lit into President Donald Trump in a “Network”-inspired speech at the Writers Guild of America Awards on Sunday. Here are his remarks about Trump transcribed. (We added the word “don’t” in brackets in two places where Sorkin dropped it.)
From time to time I write stories about politics so it was suggested to me that I might have something to say about the situation in which we currently find ourselves. It’ll come as no surprise that I do. So, in the spirit of Paddy Chayefsky, here goes.
We’ve been told that as coastal elites we’re something less than real Americans and that we’re out of touch.
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.
If you don’t find it remotely credible that three to five million people voted illegally in our last election, you’re not the one who’s out of touch.
If you [don’t] think climate change is a global hoax being perpetrated by unscrupulous Chinese scientists in cahoots with every other scientist in a cunning long-con to get grant money, you’re not the one who’s out of touch.
If you [don’t] think the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, NBC News, CBS News, ABC News and CNN lie with impunity and that the only trustworthy news source is “Fox & Friends,” you’re not the one who’s out of touch.
And if you don’t think that turning away people who are seeking a safe haven from unspeakable brutality is a morally defensible idea, then you’re not the one who’s less than a real American.
So what can we do? A lot actually. Because the most powerful delivery system ever invented for an idea is a story. The men and women in this room and one just like it in New York are America’s storytellers, and we come from everywhere.
We are old and young, black and white, gay and straight, wealthy and struggling, and yes, liberal and conservative. The most powerful delivery system ever invented for an idea is a story, and we’re America’s storytellers, and my dream of being one of you has come true. Thank you very, very much.
You can watch video of the full speech above.