Free speech is under attack. Not the imagined version where people mistake “freedom of speech” for “freedom from consequences,” but the real, dangerous dismantling of our right to dissent, to question those in power, to protest injustice.
The latest blow comes from none other than Donald Trump, the so-called leader of the free world, who recently declared on Twitter:
“All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
What is “illegal”, and by whose definition? This is a direct threat to academic institutions, students, and anyone who dares to challenge authority. It is the weaponization of government funding to silence opposition and criminalize protests, a fundamental right in any free society.
The Shift from Protecting Speech to Controlling It
Once upon a time, free speech was about standing up to government overreach. It was about ensuring that people could speak truth to power without fear of persecution. It was used to hold our leaders accountable. Today, that freedom is being rolled back to protect the powerful while punishing dissenters.
I swear, if I didn’t know better, I’d think we’re in 1939 Germany.
Let’s be clear: The right to protest is a cornerstone of democracy. Historically, protests have driven real change—from the Civil Rights Movement to opposition against the Vietnam War. Those movements weren’t “polite.” They weren’t “comfortable.” They were disruptive, and that’s exactly what made them effective. We need to do the same before it’s too late.
Trump’s words aren’t just tough talk. They signal a growing authoritarian streak in American politics where disagreement is equated with criminality, and suppression is framed as “law and order.” It’s a chilling preview of what this second Trump presidency will look like: universities forced to choose between government funding and student activism, immigrants used as scapegoats, and mass arrests for those who dare to challenge authority. We’re really towing the line of facism.
The Double Standard in Who Gets to Speak
Perhaps the most ironic part of this crackdown is that the same people who scream about “cancel culture” and “censorship” when faced with private-sector consequences for their own speech are now the ones calling for state-sponsored suppression of speech they don’t like.
When conservatives cry foul over social media bans or push for laws forcing platforms to host their views, they claim to be defending free speech. But when students protest injustice? Suddenly, the First Amendment is nowhere to be found. Instead, they are labelled as “agitators” and threatened with expulsion, deportation, and imprisonment.
This isn’t about upholding free speech—it’s about controlling it. It’s about deciding who gets to speak and who gets silenced.
Zelensky’s Question: Another Example of Silencing Dissent
This erosion of free speech isn’t just happening at home. We’re seeing it play out on the global stage as well. Just this past weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dared to ask a straightforward question to U.S. lawmakers: What diplomacy does America intend to use to stop Russia?
It wasn’t an unreasonable question. Russia has repeatedly declared ceasefires in its war against Ukraine, only to violate them time and again. However, instead of addressing President Zelensky’s legitimate concerns, Vice President J.D. Vance shifted into full bully mode. He berated Zelensky, accusing him of being “disrespectful,” while demanding that he express gratitude to President Trump and thank him.
Disrespectful? For questioning how diplomacy can succeed with a country that has repeatedly broken its promises? For demanding clarity from American leaders who offered vague, noncommittal responses while his nation fights for its survival? The most troubling part is that Vance did all of this on national television, only to later try to spin the narrative as if we hadn’t all seen it unfold in real time.
This is the same tactic we’ve been seeing in Russia, we now see in the U.S—delegitimize and dismiss anyone who dares to challenge power. Whether it’s students protesting at universities or world leaders demanding clarity on foreign policy, the response is the same: Shut them down. Silence them. Call them agitators. Remember Novotny? Soon, the U.S. will be filled with Novotnys.
The Road Ahead
If this rhetoric becomes policy, the U.S. will be taking another dangerous step toward authoritarianism. Today it’s universities; tomorrow, it’s any public institution that doesn’t fall in line. The precedent will be set: Question the government, and you’ll pay for it.
So what do we do? We resist. We speak louder. We call out hypocrisy. We refuse to let those in power redefine free speech to mean “only speech we approve of.”
Because if we don’t fight for it now, we will wake up one day and find it gone.
