During the campaign and again at his second inauguration, Donald Trump wrapped himself in the First Amendment and sold the country his latest bill of goods about restoring free speech. He railed against “left-wing censorship,” promised to end the weaponization of government power, and declared that dissent would never again be punished. It was all theater. Not even good theater. More like shitty Pigeon Forge dinner-theater theater, all mugging and overacting, no substance, and an audience expected to clap on cue…
The same man who spent years branding the press “enemies of the people” suddenly wanted credit as the patron saint of expression, as if volume alone could erase a record built on intimidation and grievance.
Trump’s version of free speech has always been conditional. The Constitution protects him when he lies, smears, reposts racist garbage, humiliates opponents, and avoids incriminating statements about raping women or Jeffrey Epstein. But when lawmakers, journalists, or protesters speak in ways that challenge his authority, speech suddenly becomes criminal. His Justice Department has pushed indictments for political expression, his administration has targeted members of Congress, and his allies have openly tested how far dissent can be punished before courts intervene. This is not confusion or hypocrisy. It is a loyalty-based system where rights apply only to those who flatter power.
The pressure extends beyond courts and cops. Donald Trump has leaned on networks like CBS, openly furious that comedians such as Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert continue to mock him. Rather than change the channel, he threatens licenses, floats investigations, and forces executives to decide whether satire is worth regulatory pain. That is not a free-speech presidency. That is a strongman reminding everyone that even laughter can come with consequences.
And standing beside him is JD Vance, applauding speeches about liberty while scolding Olympic athletes for speaking their minds. This is the same man who once called Donald Trump “America’s Hitler,” and now lectures athletes to “just play their sport” and avoid political commentary that might upset fans. Politics are acceptable when they come from politicians with power, protection, and media access. Everyone else is told to shut the fuck up, perform like you’re the monkey and they’re the organ grinder, and be grateful.
So fuck you once again, Donald Trump, for turning free speech into a privilege you grant and revoke at will. And fuck you for proving that when authoritarians talk about freedom, what they really mean is silence.
And fuck you too, JD Vance. You don’t get to lecture Olympians about loyalty after flipping your politics more times than a halfpipe snowboarder. Calling Trump “America’s Hitler” was one run. Swearing fealty was the next. Don’t scold people who train for consistency when your entire career is judged on airtime, spin, and sticking whatever landing the moment demands.
Featured Art: Gilles Chambon, L’ivresse du pouvoir, 2025 (France)
