Well Said, Trump
US prez upheld freedom of speech. It’s a value protected constitutionally and legally, across democracies
Of all US presidents, Trump has easily had the most caustic relationship with the American press. He has mocked journalists, accused them of fake news, insulted media organisations, sought their licences be cancelled, on and on. It has been viewed as part of Package Trump. Which is what made the president’s out-of-personality comment, during his speech at White House Correspondents’ Association dinner last Friday, special. Trump called on Americans to respect freedom of speech: “We settle our differences not with bullets, but with open and vigorous debate.” He was referring to the first April dinner of journos, when a gunman had breached security.
The measured words felt weird coming from Trump, who, the same evening, also accused journalists of suffering ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’. It isn’t often one can heed Trump’s word, but there it is. His ad hominem attacks do not spill into crackdowns on free speech and free press. Of course, his administration has pilloried and sued journalists, who have fought back in court, and won. Take the case of the NYT journalist issued subpoenas by Justice Dept for stories on Trump’s new aircraft. The subpoenas were withdrawn after a judge frowned at DOJ’s move. This journalist received an award at the Correspondents’ dinner, as did another, who had reported on Trump’s links with Epstein. Weird, but in this new world — all right.
Ideas must be answered with better ideas, not censorship, intimidation, or force. American press, as in most democracies, is protected by its constitution. The First Amendment prohibits making laws that impact freedom of press, which includes bloggers and independent journalists. Freedom of press is a limit on Washington, which cannot decide who is or who isn’t a journalist, or stop news gathering. Bottom line is, Trump’s words on free speech were needed, even if his own administration has been inconsistent. How well a nation absorbs and makes room for disagreement, consistently, is a good measure of democracy.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/24/white-house-correspondents-dinner-trump-washington
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd7le4ylev2o
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
