John Kerry Trashes Trump In Powerful Commencement Speech

John Kerry delivered a rousing commencement speech at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Wednesday, telling graduates there’s “nothing normal” about the Trump administration and “nothing American about it either.”

The former secretary of state derided President Donald Trump for attacking the first amendment, threatening journalists, making false promises and failing to act on climate change. Kerry started his speech by discussing the current political climate:

It’s not normal to see a president of the United States decrying “so-called judges.” It’s not normal for the leader of the country that invented the first amendment to routinely degrade and even threaten journalists. And no it’s not normal to see the head of the FBI fired summarily because he was investigating connections between Russia and the presidential campaign of the very man who fired him. And it’s not normal that when you close your eyes and you listen to the news, too often the political back-and-forth in America, sounds too much like it does in the kinds of countries that the State Department warns Americans not to travel to.

Still, the 2004 presidential candidate insisted graduates take the long view. The world has decided to move forward on issues like climate change, he said, even if America’s leadership lags behind.

“I believe the world has already made a different bet ― a bet on science, a bet on reality, and a bet that we have to move forward with or without America’s political leaders,” Kerry said.

He went on to discuss the deadly terrorist attack in Manchester, England, and how the world’s governments can only fight extremists by working together.

Watch the entire speech in the video above.

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John Kerry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (R) and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak of Slovakia leave after speaking to the media following their meeting at the State Department in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2014. (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (R) and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak of Slovakia leave after speaking to the media following their meeting at the State Department in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2014. (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

John Kerry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry(R) shakes hands with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak of Slovakia at the State Department in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2014. (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry(R) shakes hands with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak of Slovakia at the State Department in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2014. (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

John Kerry

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 18: Secretary of State John Kerry speaks about the situation in Crimea during a town hall meeting with university students at the State Department, on March 18, 2014 in Washington, DC. Kerry spoke at the town hall meeting that was billed as 'Making Foreign Policy Less Foreign.'  (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 18: Secretary of State John Kerry speaks about the situation in Crimea during a town hall meeting with university students at the State Department, on March 18, 2014 in Washington, DC. Kerry spoke at the town hall meeting that was billed as 'Making Foreign Policy Less Foreign.' (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

John Kerry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry delivers remarks as he hosts a town hall meeting with university students and delivers remarks on Making Foreign Policy Less Foreign at the State Department on March 18, 2014 in Washington. (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry delivers remarks as he hosts a town hall meeting with university students and delivers remarks on Making Foreign Policy Less Foreign at the State Department on March 18, 2014 in Washington. (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)

John Kerry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks during a town hall meeting on Making Foreign Policy Less Foreign  with university students at the State Department in Washington on March 18, 2014. Kerry warned Russia against any military incursion into eastern Ukraine, saying it would be an 'enormous challenge to the global community' which would need to be met by a strong response. (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

John Kerry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry attends a meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, March 17, 2014. Obama met with Abbas after telling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an Oval Office meeting on March 3 that tough decisions are looming ahead of an end of April deadline to agree on a framework for future negotiations for peace talks. (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

John Kerry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry boards his plane at London Stansted Airport, on March 15, 2014 in London. Kerry traveled to London to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and others to discuss Russian envelopment in the Crimea. (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry boards his plane at London Stansted Airport, on March 15, 2014 in London. Kerry traveled to London to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and others to discuss Russian envelopment in the Crimea. (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

John Kerry

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 14:  U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry holds a press conference at the Churchill hotel after his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on March 14, 2014 in London, England. Mr Kerry met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss the Ukrainian crisis situation ahead of a disputed referendum in Crimea on Sunday. (Photo by Sean Dempsey - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

John Kerry

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 14:  U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry holds a press conference at the Churchill hotel after his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on March 14, 2014 in London, England. Mr Kerry met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss the Ukrainian crisis situation ahead of a disputed referendum in Crimea on Sunday. (Photo by Sean Dempsey - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

John Kerry

British Prime Minister David Cameron (R) meets with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry at Downing Street in London on March 14, 2014. Kerry arrived in London on an 11th-hour mission to head off a possible Russian annexation of Crimea on the heels of a breakaway vote by the Ukrainian region. (Photo credit should read ANDY RAIN/AFP/Getty Images)
British Prime Minister David Cameron (R) meets with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry at Downing Street in London on March 14, 2014. Kerry arrived in London on an 11th-hour mission to head off a possible Russian annexation of Crimea on the heels of a breakaway vote by the Ukrainian region. (Photo credit should read ANDY RAIN/AFP/Getty Images)

John Kerry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry waits to start the meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (not pictured) at Winfield House, the residence of the US ambassador to the UK, in London on March 14, 2014. The United States and Russia launched a round of 11th-hour diplomacy just two days before Crimea votes to secede from Ukraine in a referendum that has sparked the biggest East-West showdown since the Cold War. (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

John Kerry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (R) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov shake hands before their meeting at Winfield House, the residence of the U.S. ambassador to the UK, in London on March 14, 2014. The United States and Russia launched a round of 11th-hour diplomacy just two days before Crimea votes to secede from Ukraine in a referendum that has sparked the biggest East-West showdown since the Cold War. (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

John Kerry

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) walk together ahead of a meeting at Winfield House, the residence of the U.S. ambassador to the UK, in London on March 14, 2014. The United States and Russia launched a round of 11th-hour diplomacy just two days before Crimea votes to secede from Ukraine in a referendum that has sparked the biggest East-West showdown since the Cold War. (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

John Kerry

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14:  U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry leaves Number 10 Downing Street after meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague on March 14, 2014 in London, England. Mr Kerry will meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss the Ukrainian crisis situation in London ahead of a disputed referendum in Crimea on Sunday.  (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

John Kerry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry waves to journalists as he arrives at Downing Street in central London on March 14, 2014, for a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague. Kerry arrived in London on an 11th-hour mission to head off a possible Russian annexation of Crimea on the heels of a breakaway vote by the Ukrainian region. (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

John Kerry

British Prime Minister David Cameron (R) and Foreign Secretary William Hague (L) meet with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (C) in Downing Street in central London on March 14, 2014. Kerry arrived in London on an 11th-hour mission to head off a possible Russian annexation of Crimea on the heels of a breakaway vote by the Ukrainian region. (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)

John Kerry

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 14:  Prime Minister David Cameron (R) greets U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry at Downing Street, on March 14, 2014 in London, England. Mr Kerry will meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss the Ukrainian crisis situation ahead of a disputed referendum in Crimea on Sunday. (Photo by Ben Stansall - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

John Kerry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrives at London Stansted Airport on March 14, 2014. Kerry arrived in London on March 14 on an 11th-hour mission to head off a possible Russian annexation of Crimea on the heels of a breakaway vote by the Ukrainian region. (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrives at London Stansted Airport on March 14, 2014. Kerry arrived in London on March 14 on an 11th-hour mission to head off a possible Russian annexation of Crimea on the heels of a breakaway vote by the Ukrainian region. (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

John Kerry

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 13:  U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry testifies before the Senate Appropriation Committee's State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee March 13, 2014 in Washington, DC. Kerry spoke on the situation in Ukraine during the hearing in addition to the fiscal year 2015 State Department budget request.  (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

John Kerry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry delivers testimony before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee on the FY2015 Budget Request for the Department of State, March 13, 2014 in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill. (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry delivers testimony before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee on the FY2015 Budget Request for the Department of State, March 13, 2014 in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill. (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)

John Kerry

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12:  Secretary of State John Kerry arrives  at a House Appropriations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, March 12, 2014 in Washington, DC. The committee was hearing testimony from Secretary Kerry on President Obama's FY 2015 State Department Budget request.  (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: Secretary of State John Kerry arrives at a House Appropriations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, March 12, 2014 in Washington, DC. The committee was hearing testimony from Secretary Kerry on President Obama's FY 2015 State Department Budget request. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

John Kerry

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12:  U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (R) meets with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk (L) at the State Department March 12, 2014 in Washington, DC. Yatsenyuk is scheduled to meet later in the day with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House.  (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (R) meets with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk (L) at the State Department March 12, 2014 in Washington, DC. Yatsenyuk is scheduled to meet later in the day with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

John Kerry

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 12:  U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden (2nd L) and Secretary of State John Kerry (3rd L) listen during a bilateral meeting between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk in the Oval Office of the White House March 12, 2014 in Washington, DC. Prime Minister Yatsenyuk was in Washington to discuss the current situation of the Russian military intervention in the Crimea area.  (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

John Kerry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) talks with British Junior Foreign Office minister Hugh Robertson during a meeting on Libya at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Rome on March 6, 2014. Kerry meets with his counterparts from Italy, France and Germany in Rome to discuss the crisis in Ukraine. The talks are being held on the sidelines of an international meeting on Libya. (Photo credit should read ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images)

John Kerry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) and Italy's Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini (R) pose for a family photo together with ambassadors and delegates at the end of the meeting on Libya at the Italian Foreign Ministry headquarters in Rome on March 6, 2014. Kerry will meet with his counterparts from Italy, France and Germany in Rome to discuss the crisis in Ukraine in a talks were being held on the sidelines of an international meeting on Libya. (Photo credit should read ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images)

John Kerry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry leaves the Elysee presidential palace after a joint meeting of the International Support Group for Lebanon at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris, on March 5, 2014. Dignitaries from France, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, and other European countries met in Paris to discuss the impact on Lebanon of the ongoing violent conflict in Syria, as well as the current crisis in Ukraine. (Photo credit should read MARTIN BUREAU/AFP/Getty Images)

John Kerry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to reporters about the Ukraine crisis after his meetings with other foreign ministers, on March 5, 2014 at the US ambassador's residence in Paris. (Photo credit should read KEVIN LAMARQUE/AFP/Getty Images)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to reporters about the Ukraine crisis after his meetings with other foreign ministers, on March 5, 2014 at the US ambassador's residence in Paris. (Photo credit should read KEVIN LAMARQUE/AFP/Getty Images)

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