First lady Michelle Obama raked Donald Trump over the coals during a commencement address in New York City on Friday, saying that Americans don't give into "fears" the presumptive GOP presidential nominee is using to peddle his intolerant agenda.
Despite the fact that the first lady never mentioned the billionaire real-estate tycoon by name, there was no question who she was taking about as she spoke before a group of graduating seniors at The City College of New York.
"Here in America, we don't give into our fears. We don't build up walls to keep people out, because we know that our greatness has always depended on contributions from people who were born elsewhere but sought out this country and made it their home," she said.
"Some folks out there today seem to have a very different perspective. They seem to view our diversity as a threat to be contained rather than as a resource to be tapped. They tell us to be afraid of those who are different, to be suspicious of those with whom we disagree.
"They act as if name-calling is an acceptable substitute for thoughtful debate, as if anger and intolerance should be our default state, rather than the optimism and openness that have always been the engine of our progress."
She said she has seen what happens when "ideas like these take hold."
"I have seen how leaders who rule by intimidation, leaders who demonize and dehumanize entire groups of people, often do so because they have nothing else to offer. That is not who we are, the first lady said.
She also praised The City College of New York, a low-cost public school that sits among a city of high priced private school like Columbia University and New York University.
"All of you know for centuries this city has been the gateway to America for so many striving, hope-filled immigrants," Mrs. Obama said, noting the college embraced students who "didn't have to hide their last names or their accents."