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Trump Vows Free Speech Order if Elected, Plans to Fire Current Administration's Censors

 September 9, 2024

In a bold move aiming to reclaim the White House, former President Donald Trump has promised a sweeping executive order to safeguard free speech by penalizing federal censorship efforts.

Trump’s campaign is pledging to issue a pivotal executive order that would dismiss federal employees found guilty of limiting free speech, spotlighting the current administration's alleged censorship in collaboration with social media giants, as the Post Millennial reports.

During a recent campaign speech, Trump pledged to protect the First Amendment by preventing federal employees from restricting free speech.

He detailed plans to issue an executive order that would bar any such actions, emphasizing the significance of free speech in democracy.

Trump's Commitment to Free Speech Amid Campaign

The planned executive order, according to Trump, targets bureaucrats within the federal government who are involved in what he perceives as acts of domestic censorship.

The former president stated emphatically that any federal employee who collaborates to limit speech would be terminated under his administration.

This announcement comes in the wake of accusations that the Biden-Harris administration has engaged with social media platforms to suppress information deemed misleading or harmful. These claims have stirred significant controversy and debate about the boundaries of free speech and the role of government in moderating content.

Biden-Harris Administration's Disinformation Board

In response to the rising concern over misinformation, the Biden-Harris administration had previously established the Disinformation Governance Board. Led by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), this board aimed to tackle misinformation threatening homeland security, with a focus on issues like irregular migration and Russian disinformation efforts.

The board, however, had a brief existence, illustrating the complex nature of governmental involvement in information control.

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas outlined its objective in 2022, highlighting the administration's intent to unify departmental efforts against misinformation threats.

Historical Tensions Over Social Media and Free Speech

The issue of government involvement with social media took a more personal turn with Vice President Kamala Harris's previous statements and actions regarding Donald Trump's social media conduct. A video from 2019 resurfaced, showing Harris advocating for Trump’s removal from Twitter due to posts that allegedly threatened democratic processes.

Harris had also written directly to Twitter's CEO, Jack Dorsey, condemning Trump’s tweets as threats to civil society and democracy. These communications have been pivotal in ongoing debates about the limits of presidential speech and the responsibilities of social media platforms.

Elon Musk's Revelations and Debate on Censorship

Adding to the controversy, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk disclosed internal communications from Twitter that hinted at discussions around limiting certain types of speech.

Musk criticized the Democratic Party’s approach to free speech, singling out Harris as a significant influencer in what he described as attempts to control speech.

Trump, seizing on these disclosures, has used them as a foundation for his promises to curtail what he views as governmental overreach into free speech. He has aligned these issues directly with the actions of the current administration, accusing them of attempting to stifle dissent by labeling it as misinformation or disinformation.

The Legal and Political Implications of Trump's Proposals

These proposed actions by Trump have already been touched upon in a series of congressional investigations and lawsuits. These legal challenges aim to uncover the extent of any collusion between the Biden-Harris administration and social media platforms to censor content.

The First Amendment remains a cornerstone of Trump’s campaign platform, as he continues to assert that any kind of censorship infringes on fundamental American freedoms. His proposed executive order seeks not only to challenge his political opponents but also to redefine the government's role in regulating speech.

The campaign trail thus continues to heat up as these issues of free speech, censorship, and government accountability become focal points of contention between the Trump campaign and the current administration.