The "free speech" facade fronting political censorship

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The “free speech” facade fronting political censorship
The more censorship Trump pursues, the louder his boasts about “free speech” will get

By Michael Serazio
Boston College professor
Published March 18, 2025 7:39AM (EDT)


(Salon) As adjectives go, “Orwellian” tends to be prematurely invoked — and hyperbolically, if often in good faith. It warns of language being hijacked toward antithetical means and authoritarian ends. It’s also usually a bit more subtle than President Trump’s recent congressional address, but subtlety doesn’t define his policy formulations or his gaudy architectural aesthetic.

“I’ve stopped all government censorship and I’ve brought back free speech in America,” he declared from the dais. Then, mere moments later, to thunderous applause from the Republican chamber, he added, “I renamed the ‘Gulf of Mexico’ the ‘Gulf of America.’”

....(snip)....

For an administration whose first-day executive orders included a proclamation restoring “the right of the American people to speak freely in the public square without Government interference,” one might assume this includes the freedom of copy editing exercised by journalists.

It doesn’t, of course, because Trump’s commitment to “free speech” has long been fraudulent doublespeak, to borrow once more from Orwell, even as the media frequently indulges that framing. A decade ago, the canary in this coal mine was NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

....(snip)....

In his first month back in office, Trump’s efforts have included cracking down on DEI language at universities and corporations, forbidding teaching about race and gender in local schools, banning the display of pride flags at VA facilities, vowing to expel or deport protesting students, and seizing control of the White House press pool access. ...........(more)

https://www.salon.com/2025/03/18/the-free-speech-facade-fronting-political-censorship/