Speak at Your Own Risk
On the first day of his second term in the White House, President Trump signed an executive order on free speech stating that his administration would ensure that “no Federal Government officer, employee, or agent engages in or facilitates any conduct that would unconstitutionally abridge the free speech of any American citizen.” He has gone on to violate that order many times.
TL;DR
- President Trump signed an executive order on free speech on his second term's first day but has allegedly violated it multiple times.
- Trump announced the banning of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House in response to reporting he deemed unfavorable.
- The administration has used the FCC to intimidate networks over content, threatened to revoke broadcast licenses, and sought to censor research.
- Journalists fired from Stars and Stripes are suing the Pentagon for silencing them due to their reporting.
- The Pentagon also attempted to compel media organizations to sign a self-censorship pledge for press credentials.
- The FTC is investigating Media Matters and NewsGuard.
- Trump sought to ban the AP for refusing to rename the Gulf of Mexico.
- Trump stated that the U.S. is also repressive towards journalists, comparing it to China.
- The Justice Department has pressured colleges and universities regarding curriculum, hiring, and admissions.
- Federal funding has been used to censor technological, medical, and scientific research.
- Left-wing organizations have been singled out for scrutiny and investigation.
- Immigrants have faced deportation for pro-Palestinian views, which a federal judge called a First Amendment violation.
- Reuters has counted at least 75 federal rulings finding that the Trump administration infringed on First Amendment rights.
- The Republican Party appears to hold a definition of free speech where only conservatives can speak freely without risk.