Eight months ago, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders uploaded a YouTube video titled “We Are Living in Unprecedented Times,” expressing concern after Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election. Besides recalling the Trump administration’s rapid political reversals in its first two weeks, the Vermont senator directly addressed working-class Americans and what the future might hold for them.
Throughout the year, the term “unprecedented” has morphed into a common political buzzword. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the word means “never having happened or existed in the past,” which, in most cases, people can use to describe the current state of the political landscape. The case of free speech remains at the center of public debate.
Within the first week of his second presidential term, Trump targeted diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, declaring initiatives as “illegal discrimination.” This resulted in the loss of federal funding for programs, public collegiate censorship, and corporate rollbacks.
“Call them out, and hell, call their employer,” Vice President JD Vance said while guest-hosting an episode of the Charlie Kirk Show. Following the assassination of the conservative activist, public workers, college educators, and journalists have been fired from their jobs for social media posts deemed offensive concerning Kirk’s legacy. On September 17, Jimmy Kimmel Live! was pulled from the air indefinitely after Kimmel’s controversial monologue, which critiqued Trump’s response to Kirk’s murder. Although the late-night television show returned on Tuesday, September 23, Kimmel’s suspension sparked debates about the parameters of free speech.
According to a recent NPR survey, 79% of 1,400 Americans surveyed say that the U.S. is going too far in restricting free speech.
Where does the First Amendment principle stand in 2025?
What does the U.S. Constitution say about free speech?
Citing the U.S. Constitution, the First Amendment begins stating, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech.” According to the U.S. Courts, free speech includes the right to protest, the right to use offensive words and phrases to convey political messages, and most forms of hate speech. Incitement to violence, true threats, and harassment linked to hate speech are not protected under the First Amendment.
What is the Trump administration’s stance on free speech?
As stated by NPR, Trump has accused the Biden administration of censoring conservative ideas in the past. A January 20 executive order reads, “Over the last 4 years, the previous [Biden] administration trampled free speech rights by censoring Americans’ speech on online platforms.” However, critics point out present-day contradictions. On September 19, Trump vocalized a claim that critical television coverage of him should be “illegal,” stating that it’s “no longer free speech.” This comes after Trump enacted a bill, cancelling $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcast funding on July 24, resulting in the closure of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).
What efforts are being made to protect free speech?
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) are among several civil rights organizations that have historically advocated for First Amendment rights. Statements are regularly released from these organizations to hold institutions accountable and challenge the prevailing sociopolitical climate.
On October 1, over 550 celebrities relaunched the McCarthy-era group, the Committee for the First Amendment. Jane Fonda announced the revival, inspired by her father, actor Henry Fonda, who was an original member of the organization in the 1940s. Some notable names include Ayo Edebiri, Kerry Washington, and Quinta Brunson.