Donald Trump‘s obsession with being worshipped rather than scrutinized has dragged the United States into a constitutional crisis over its own First Amendment. Free speech is now under siege simply because 97% of news stories about him aren’t flattering.
In the aftermath of the firing of Jimmy Kimmel, questions are rising regarding the protection of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that safeguards free speech. Even Trump’s usual allies, like conservative firebrand Tucker Carlson, are breaking ranks, condemning a president whose sense of entitlement has blurred the line between personal vendettas and national governance. And Trump’s defense? If the majority of media coverage makes him look bad, it’s no longer free speech.
The MAGA leader also recently threatened to revoke the licenses of any media networks that air anti-Trump content, because “they’re not allowed to do that.” Now, he’s doubled down, claiming that any free expression critical of him is not speech at all, but “cheating.”
“I think that reporting has to be at least accurate to an extent… when 97% of the stories are bad about a person, that’s no longer free speech. That’s just cheating. They cheat, and they become members of the Democratic National Committee. That’s what they are.”
So here’s the double standard: when Trump calls Seth Meyers or Jimmy Fallon “two total losers,” he’s exercising his First Amendment rights. But when Kimmel makes one offhand, distasteful joke about the administration, suddenly, he’s unfit to be on air. And if anyone points to ratings as a factor, Trump and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr made sure to present Kimmel’s firing as a direct punishment for daring to joke about the president and used it as an example to threaten other journalists.
As the video of his autocratic tantrum went viral on social media, users took a sharp aim at his fragile ego. “Imagine being so thin-skinned you think criticism is unconstitutional,” one user wrote on X, while another schooled him just right to do some self-reflection:
“First of all, I would be wondering why 97% were bad, and maybe do some self-reflection. Second of all, it is still free speech at 100%. As an aside, I want to see how he got to 97%; that would be a fun spreadsheet to look at.” (via X/@ochoab1)
If Trump ever took the time to actually read those “97% bad stories,” he might realize that the outrage right now isn’t about him, it’s about how his fragile ego has weaponized a cornerstone of American democracy, making free speech valid only when it flatters him.
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