NEW YORK — On Monday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order prohibiting any federal officer, employee, or agent from encroaching on the free speech rights of American citizens, which marks a significant step toward fulfilling his commitment to dismantle what he refers to as governmental “censorship.” This action comes immediately following his inauguration for a second term, amid accusations that the federal government has pressured social media platforms to remove lawful content due to fears surrounding misinformation.
The directive instructs the Attorney General, collaborating with heads of other executive agencies, to look into how federal actions during the Biden administration might have compromised free speech and to suggest corrective measures based on the findings. Trump signed this order, along with several other executive actions, at Capital One Arena, demonstrating his determination to confront what he deems the “censorship cartel” right from the outset of his new term.
This announcement resonates strongly with his supporters, who believe the federal government has been unjustly targeting right-leaning speech. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, has echoed similar sentiments, alleging that high-ranking Biden administration officials pressured his team to restrict specific content during the COVID-19 pandemic. In another instance, Elon Musk, the owner of the social platform X, claimed that the FBI unlawfully influenced Twitter prior to his tenure to suppress a narrative regarding Hunter Biden.
While former executives of Twitter admitted to mishandling the situation by blocking that story just prior to the 2020 presidential election, they firmly denied acting under government coercion. The Supreme Court ruled last year in favor of Biden’s administration in a case involving Republican-led states concerning the government’s extent in addressing contentious social media posts related to COVID-19 and election integrity.
Trump’s order, however, does not seem to address the significant dangers posed by harmful misinformation that can escalate into genuine threats, harassment, or violence. Notably, four years prior, Trump’s extensive falsehoods regarding the 2020 election led to harassment of election officials and ultimately contributed to the Capitol riot.
The implications of this executive order on various federal agencies’ operations, particularly those that monitor false claims affecting election integrity—like the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)—remain unclear. CISA, under the Department of Homeland Security, has drawn criticism from Republicans over its initiatives aimed at combating misinformation. Kristi Noem, the Republican nominee for DHS head, indicated in a recent Senate hearing that she might restrict the agency’s projects if desired by federal legislators.
Outgoing CISA Director Jen Easterly defended the agency, emphasizing that CISA has never engaged in censorship. Meanwhile, Nina Jankowicz, CEO of the American Sunlight Project, argued that Trump’s order is an act of vengeance for perceived slights. Jankowicz, who previously led a federal Disinformation Governance Board that faced backlash from conservatives, suggested that the executive order could empower foreign entities utilizing disinformation to unsettle the nation and profit from falsehoods.
While Trump’s executive order centers on the speech of Americans, it remains uncertain how it will impact the communication strategies federal agencies employ with social media firms regarding misleading claims originating from abroad. Notably, many disinformation efforts from foreign adversaries targeting U.S. voters often leverage platforms run by American citizens to disseminate these messages.
Since his first term, Trump has branded himself as a proponent of free speech, notably criticizing Twitter for fact-checking his tweets about mail-in ballots. Simultaneously, he has consistently disparaged the media, labeling journalists as the “enemy of the people,” and hinted at possible repercussions for news outlets, such as revoking broadcasting licenses for certain networks.
Despite previously contentious relations with tech platforms, Trump has recently formed closer ties with the tech elite who oversee social media platforms vital for American communication. At his inaugural event, he seated influential figures including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sundar Pichai prominently. He has also claimed credit for TikTok’s re-entry into the U.S. market and welcomed TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew at the Capitol for his swearing-in ceremony.
