On Thursday, one month after announcing his 2024 bid to retake the White House, former President Donald Trump rolled out his first major policy of the campaign cycle, outlining a bold and detailed plan to restore free speech through much-needed reforms of government agencies, Big Tech giants, universities, and media entities.
In a video posted on his Truth Social page, Trump promised that, if elected, he would “shatter the left-wing censorship regime and reclaim the right to free speech for all Americans.”
“If we don’t have free speech, then we just don’t have a free country. It’s as simple as that,” Trump said. “If this most fundamental right is allowed to perish, then the rest of our rights and liberties will topple just like dominoes, one by one—they’ll go down.”
Trump’s announcement comes in the middle of the ongoing publication of the so-called “Twitter Files,” which have outlined the shocking extent to which Twitter executives conspired with federal bureaucrats to silence, censor, and blacklist Americans for exercising their First Amendment rights—including the de-platforming of Trump himself, who was at the time the sitting president of the United States.
Trump nodded to these revelations in Thursday’s video, saying that “In recent weeks, bombshell reports have confirmed that a sinister group of Deep State bureaucrats, Silicon Valley tyrants, left-wing activists, and depraved corporate news media have been conspiring to manipulate and silence the American people. They have collaborated to suppress vital information on everything from elections to public health.” As Trump outlined, there is only one solution: “The censorship cartel must be dismantled and destroyed.”
Trump then went on to lay out a five-part plan to combat the erosion of free speech rights, beginning with a promise to forbid the U.S. government from “colluding with any organization” to “impede the lawful speech of American citizens.” Through a day one executive order, Trump’s plan would mandate the firing of “every federal bureaucrat who has engaged in domestic censorship—directly or indirectly.” His plan also includes banning “federal money from being used to label domestic speech as mis- or dis-information.”
As the second part of his plan, Trump vowed to order the Department of Justice to investigate “all parties involved” in the “new online censorship regime,” as well as to “aggressively prosecute” all crimes. “To assist in these efforts,” Trump continued, “I am urging House Republicans to immediately send preservation letters” to parties including the Biden administration, the Biden campaign, and tech giants, ordering them “not to destroy evidence of censorship.”
Thirdly, Trump will seek a reform of Section 230 protections, which in recent years have effectively allowed formally private companies who manage what are effectively online public squares to suppress voices that do not align with their political worldview. “From now on, digital platforms should only qualify for immunity protection under Section 230 if they meet high standards of neutrality, transparency, fairness, and non-discrimination,” Trump said. He also called on tech companies to increase their regulation of illegal content—including child exploitation and terrorism—while ensuring all “lawful speech” is not arbitrarily curtailed.
Fourth, Trump called for the defunding of “all non-profits and academic programs that support this authoritarian project.” If any American college or university is “discovered to have engaged in censorship activities or election interference in the past,” Trump said, they should lose federal research money and student loan support for a period of five years. Trump called on Congress to pass “new laws laying out clear criminal penalties for federal bureaucrats who partner with private entities to do an end-run around the Constitution and deprive Americans of their First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendment rights.” Trump also proposed a seven-year “cooling-off period” before federal national security and intelligence agency employees can accept jobs at tech companies in possession of “vast quantities of U.S. user data.”
Finally, Trump petitioned Congress to enact a “digital Bill of Rights,” which would include a “right to digital due process” (requiring government to get a court order to request takedowns of online content) and a system by which social media users removed or restricted by their platforms have a right to an explanation of the reason why, as well as a timely appeal.
“The fight for free speech is a matter of victory or death for America—and for the survival of Western civilization itself,” Trump concluded. “When I am president, this whole rotten system of censorship and information control will be ripped out of the system at large… By restoring free speech, we will begin to reclaim our democracy and save our nation.”
From the days of the American Founding nearly 250 years ago, the American people and their government have always recognized free speech to be a crucial element of democratic self-government. And with legislative proposals like Trump’s—along with Elon Musk’s reshaping of the social media landscape—the national movement to rein in Big Tech, preserve free speech rights, and restore one of the most fundamental components of American democracy is only just beginning.
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We need this man back in office where he rightfully belongs. Get rid of the non-elected people who are running this nation. Let those imprisoned on false accusations be set free…use their cells for those guilty be they judges, FBI personal, or side-line imposters.
I have a better idea. Completely defund the federal agencies involved in any nefarious activities. For example, by the early 1900’s Federally funded Pinkertons went corrupt. Congress defunded them. Problem solved. Defund the FBI and DOJ. At the same time all employees forfeit their federal pensions. Then defund other bad actor agencies. Then defund the WHO, WEF, UN, etc. Those bad actor agencies will dry up, wither and die.
You forgot one big orginization that needs defunded & banned & all assets seized from the traitors.Its called the democratic party (better known as the demoncrats)
Trump’s fifth and final point, getting Congress to enact a “digital bill of rights” is the only one that stands a chance of doing anything lasting. Executive orders will be trashed on day one of an opposing administration, ala slow-joe-biden, who systematically trashed every one of Trumps EO’s. Requiring the justice department to do anything that goes against the left will be an exercise in futility! Reforming section 230 protections may also have some teeth, just don’t do it via EO’s. Time would have to tell. I applaud the effort, but the real reform we may need lies within the justice department itself! Until then, he may just be trying to shovel the beach into the ocean!
From his novel, Animal Farm, George Orwell: All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. A proclamation by the pigs who control the government.
President Trump popularized the term “Fake News”. His reforms also need to strip the corporate media of their more equal than other rights.The Federal Election Campaign Act was amended in 1974 to exempt corporate media from campaign laws, because their 1st Amendment rights could not be abridged.
Senator McConnell, in a letter to a constituent, had the following comment about the press exemption: “Section 431(9)(B)(i) makes a distinction where there is no real difference: the media is extremely powerful by any measure, a “special interest” by any definition, and heavily engaged in the “issue advocacy” and “independent expenditure” realms of political persuasion that most editorial boards find so objectionable when anyone other than a media outlet engages in it. To illustrate the absurdity of this special exemption the media enjoys, I frequently cite as an example the fact that if the RNC bought NBC from GE the FEC would regulate the evening news and, under the McCain-Feingold “reform” bill, Tom Brokaw could not mention a candidate 60 days before an election. This is patently absurd.” amendment10.tripod.com/mitch4.htm
– (Press exemption was moved to: 52 U.S. Code § 30101 – Definitions (9)(B)(i).)
52 U.S. Code § 30101 – Definitions (9)(B) The term “expenditure” does not include— (i) any news story, commentary, or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine, or other periodical publication, unless such facilities are owned or controlled by any political party, political committee, or candidate; –  law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/30101
This Press Exemption created a “Royal”, “State Approved” press! If candidates and political parties have to pay for time/space in the media, then why are favorable editorials or negative stories considered to have no value if they are published by corporate media, unless the media is controlled by a political party, political committee, or candidate?
The press exemption concentrates power over political narrative in the hands of corporate media, special interests themselves and dependent on the advertising dollars of other special interests.
The 1st right guaranteed is freedom of religion and corporations do not worship God. If Congress regulated freedom of religion like they regulate freedom of the press, Churches and synagogues, as institutions, would be free to follow the tenets of their religion, but not church goers.
As for freedom of speech and the press, media corporations do not have a brain, a voice Box or a body. A media business cannot interview a political candidate, form a political opinion or endorse a political candidate, only human beings, acting as employees of the media institutions are capable of exercising First Amendment Rights.
if newspapers were the definition of freedom of the press and radio and TV stations the definition of freedom of speech, they would not need an exemption from Federal Campaign laws. The GOP should fight to restore equal 1st Amendment rights to the electorate:
By letting the press exemption stand the Republican Party abridges the 1st Amendment rights of the electorate and denies equal protection of the 14th Amendment, ironically the same amendment that supposedly granted corporations 1st Amendment rights. It amounts to chastising the electorate for the crimes and potential crimes of politicians!
To restore equal rights to citizens, federal candidates, political parties and PACs “We the People” should ask our representatives in the Senate and House to revisit “S. 2416 — 113th Congress: Free All Speech Act of 2014.” govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s2416
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2416
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 3, 2014
Mr. Cruz introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
A BILL
To apply laws that restrict the political speech of American citizens to media corporations.
1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Free All Speech Act of 2014.
2. Application of laws that restrict the political speech of American citizens to media corporations
(a) In general
Any law that restricts the political speech of American citizens shall apply with equal force to media corporations, such as the New York Times, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), and the CBS Television Network.
(b) No application to American citizens if application to media corporations found unconstitutional
To the extent that the application of a law to a media corporation under subsection (a) is found unconstitutional, such law shall have no force or effect with respect to American citizens.
The issue isn’t Trump or DeSantis or whomever. The GOP needs to support 1000% the nominee whoever it may be, as the alternative is the DEM that will continue the tyranny of Clinton, Obama, Biden and the Globalists that wish to enslave the people not only here but worldwide in Socialism. As to the proposal here by Trump, it is solid, well thought and effective and should be implemented by any GOP elected President.
The problem with the free speech crusade is that we are dealing with people who have abandoned the notion of objective truth. The left believes that they can create truth by making a narrative and then blame everyone who disagrees as dangerous spreaders of “disinformation” as they see it. Since there is no objective truth as they see it, nobody should listen to a word they say, because they only have words but no substance.
They even pervert science, for when they say “the science is settled” (vaccines are safe and effective; humans have evolved from lower life forms; the climate crisis can be solved by human efforts; etc.)—
They miss the point of science entirely! To dismiss all challenges to prevailing theories is anti-science. But what do they care? There is no “truth” anyway— not if you disagree with what they believe!
All objective truth comes from God. We have to start with Him. He determines what reality is. To the earnest, humble seeker, He reveals Himself, and His truth.
Trump should see the handwriting on the wall and bow out of any pursuit of any elected office.
A true, God-sent man of peace and harmony, Trump will probably be remembered as the greatest president, the greatest genius and simply the greatest man in History.
We can only pray that he succeeds in reestablishing the freedom of speech as he intends to, and punish the evil satanists, then humanity can hope for a new peaceful era for as long as the earth will live…
Never will have been so many creatures will bave been saved by so few humans around the gigantic Donald J. Trump.
If you think you can think, please reconsider…
Nance…Trump is the ONLY candidate to SURVIVE the daggers thrown by the “LEFT”. Reality check here…..we are dealing with PURE EVIL and they follow no RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WAKE UP!!
Your feedback tells the entire story! Stop listening to all the partisan political water-boy hacks and think for yourself! How was your living condition during the 4 years that Trump was in office? How was your cost of living, gas prices, heating costs, product availability, etc. etc… Trump was never a danger to this Democracy! He was a tremendous asset to protecting it! You should be so lucky as to have Trump back in the WH for another 4 years instead of the absolute clods occupying in presently!!! Again, try thinking for yourself!!!
No, he should not! That’s not standing up to the fakes news, liars, hoaxes, conspirators…but rather being intimidated by bullies and political hacks who have lots to hide, which President Trump was exposing!! This president always told the truth and was always put on the defense. He certainly deserves a third term to finish his stolen term, and ultimately receive justice! These hacks did serious damage to our country by trying to silence the God’s truth! President Trump is the only one we can trust to drain the swamp!! MAGA, TRUMP 2024 ????????????
Time for President Trump to realize he was the right person for 2016….but the wrong person for 2024. He should bow out gracefully and become the senior Republican statesman..
Rick.. next in line (IF he runs) is DE Santis. Do you really believe that his young wife and children will survive the evil thrown at them if he runs???His wife already has survived cancer and any new pressure against her and the children will stop De Santis!!
We are dealing with pure EVIL and they fight with NO RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!NONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m sure the topic of running for president has come up at the DeSantis dinner table. I don’t think he has ever said “No, I will not run for president in 2024”. Instead, when asked, he replies with something like, “I’m concentrating on being governor of the great state of Florida”, which means “maybe”.
President Trump did great things for this country in the short period of time before the pandemic struck. And then he still did great things…
The question each of us will face in the primaries for the 2024 elections is whether Trump will be the best choice for Republicans. The people will decide whether it will be Trump, DeSantis, or someone else. In any case, EACH OF US MUST VOTE FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE. If there were greater R turnout at the polls, we could have won in 2020. Because the D’s cheat, we must overwhelm the election with legal votes to exceed the illegal votes cast by D’s.
In a more honest and perfect world, what you say would be the correct course of action. In general, most voter turnouts range in the 60 to 65 percent range for national elections. This is of course terrible, when you consider the stakes at risk. Voter turnout should, under ideal circumstances, range between 90 and 95 percent each and every election. Virtually everything the POTUS and the Congress does has either a direct or indirect impact on every single person in this country, yet most people refuse to understand the importance of voting.
The one consistent thing I have noticed over the last few decades is that the American people seem to have become more and more apathetic and defeatist in nature. They generally lack what I would call the “can do spirit” to get things done. This is aligned with the deteriorating percentages of voter turnouts. At the first sign of any resistance, instead of figuring out how to work around an obsticle to achieve success, they instead opt to throw up their hands and fold. They seem to want the easy, no effort, no involvement solution that of course doesn’t exist. Then you see the endless comments of “someone” (insert whoever you want here) has to save us. Personally, I don’t understand why so many people are so willing to throw in the towel at the first sign of any pushback. This country wasn’t built by defeatists and whiners.
Yes, I agree 100 percent that every single registered voter should vote in every single election. It is the ONLY way to try and keep the politicians somewhat honest and the only way to ensure against fraud, like ballot box stuffing, drop box and ballot harvesting don’t provide an easy means to sway elections. It won’t do anything to prevent voter manipulation via the sort of nonsense the government did with all the social media companies in 2020 and 2022, but it takes at least some of the options to cheat off the table. By the way, we DO desperately need an RNC and congressional leadership that can not only plan ahead, but actually think on its feet. Enough of this “coast to victory” nonsense to justify the reality that they don’t have any effective plan to win.
As to the Republican nominee, I’ll just say this: Yes, we should vote for whomever ends up being the Republican nominee, but we must make very, very sure the person that is selected is truly up for the job. It shouldn’t be a personality contest or who we might like to have a beer with, but who is honestly capable of taking on all the myriad of issues this country is facing and getting positive things done. Remember, just having an (R) after one’s name doesn’t mean they are all the same as we’ve seen time and time again. People like Reagan and Trump are rareties in the modern Republican Party. People who actually are able to get things done when the establishment Party leadership, in general, is content to settle for a placeholder in between Democrat administrations. Meaning Republicans who are either an empty suit or are more aligned with the Democrats, than many would like to admit. I don’t think I need to name names, as most people know who routinely keeps helping the Democrats pass more and more ruinous legislation as an example.
So anyway, lets just hope that Republican voters choose wisely in the upcoming primaries. Things between now and 2024 certainly won’t be getting any better with Team Biden at the wheel. I know enough about their agenda for the next 2 years to see their main emphasis is on cementing all the bad policies and regulations they have made for the last 2 years. That means any potential Republican President in 2025 will have to devote at least the first 3 or 4 years to trying to reverse a lot of intentional damage left by the Democrats.
Stop drinking the Kool-Aid being forced down our throats by leftist and some Republicans that Trump’s time is over. He did a lot of good things for this country and he’s capable of doing the same again. The only reason he is not the top candidate now is because his enemies keep telling us that he isn’t. Are you going to bow to the leftists?
I agree with Trump. With him as president once again this country will go back to the values of the Constitution. It seems funny that Biden can say and accuse the Republicans for all that’s happen.
When Pelosi’s husband got hammered the first thing out of Biden’s mouth was The accusing Republicans being responsible.
I e_mailed him and told him I was a Republican and that he better make sure what he says is true because he could be setting himself up for a law suite. The reply I got was thank you for your concern. They never addressed the issue I wrote them about.
I voted for Trump and will again. With Trump America is safe and free.
Wow! Most people do not trust government at all and the media,academia and big tech are joining that group. I think Trump will get just a few more votes with this proposal. But he will also have to enlist a large army of people that will be at the polling sites and everywhere that ballots are counted in 2024 to be sure of a valid election.
What WE NEED is to have Americans “WAKE UP” to the EVIL that is about to DEVOUR America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe things need to get ” MUCH WORSE” for this to happen–sorry to say!!
Trump all the way. Kyle L.
Can enough “Republicans” grow cojones to actually ACT against DIMM tyranny? I only know about a dozen for sure!
Too many Republicans have NO backbone…….and have sold out America with their investments in CHINA.
Remember…these are the people that WE ELECTED!!!!!
Are the people willing to listen to Trump? And this proposal? The mid terms showed us that they rather would see America go down in flames than keep America the country of the free and brave.
Left is pooping bricks and will do everything to discredit if not destroy Trump
They will do this to ANY CANDIDATE that doesn’t comply with their demands!!HERE is the question……DO WE have a candidate that can WITHSTAND the bombs,bows and arrows ????
TRUMP can and has…NOW will Americans get off their rears and support America or “lay on the couch” while America burns DOWN????
We can continue blaming candidates..BUT the real BLAME is on the citizen that doesn’t “GIVE a SH*T or doesn’t educate him/her self or care about our FREEDOMS!!
We don’t need spoon feeding….we need to WAKE UP and defend the CONSTITUTION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE , THE PEOPLE are RESPONSIBLE for what WE have OR DON’T HAVE!!!
NO candidate can turn our ship around if WE don’t care….it will ONLY SINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well said Liz. The democrat communist party of America will attack and smear ANY CANDIDATE who bothers to run against them!!
Love his Free Speech Plan 2 bad his NFT got more press than PLan or both=.
Next Implement
The devil came to kill,still and destroy.Biden is working with the devil.He has taken this country and tore it apart.
Biden! The great White Dope!
ONLY if WE let him….and so far not ENOUGH people seem to CARE!!
Caution, Caution as you read the following comments, there is a mad RINO in the house, and he is trampling on other people’s comments, but not too weary he is not getting high marks for them!
Should be: But not to worry!
Isn’t there a way to report this jerk and have his AMAC membership revoked? Calling people liars, scum, and nazis should not be allowed, that is hate speech, not free speech! He (maybe we should ask him what his preferred pronouns are) calls himself GOP Establishment, but he is a Dem plant, meant to disrupt and antagonize the rest of us. I wish I could just block him; we are wasting our time responding to his baseless accusations, without a shred of evidence to support his claims.
Clearly, he belongs at AARP —– That’s – A–holes Against Republican People
They , AARP, got mad and sent me an e-mail because I said they were a bunch of liberals out for their own gain. The proof was their overwhelming support of Obama care debacle! They made tons of money. They do not really care about the American people, only the money!
We will never have free speech with the socialist democrats and progressive party in control. Free speech must be honest speech. President Trump needs to step down as he has too much baggage to help America and the Republican par ty. His time is over
Another sunshine patriot heard from.
Even toting all that baggage, he still managed to be one of the best presidents this country has ever had.
Those are great Pro-American principles that are basic to our Constitution!
Those are great pro-American constitutional principles.