There’s a genuine phenomenon called Trump Mad Syndrome, and yes, liberal media bias exists. Despite the outcry from his critics online, Donald Trump is not Hitler or a Nazi.
However, let’s be honest here: Trump champions free speech—just not for anyone but himself. This doesn’t extend to you, me, or anyone who dares to cross him, including Jimmy Kimmel.
He’s taken legal action against media outlets he disapproves of. He even threatens to revoke broadcast licenses from networks that air content he finds offensive. His chosen FCC commissioner, Brendan Carr, seems to have embraced a rather authoritarian approach.
Regarding Kimmel’s jokes on ABC, Carr’s comments sounded a lot like intimidation. He seemed to suggest, “We can go about this easily or we can make it hard.” This kind of rhetoric reminds one of gangster films, and even Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) felt the need to call it out. He remarked that while it feels good to threaten someone like Kimmel now, it may come back to haunt them if it leads to diminishing conservative voices nationwide.
Cruz isn’t alone in defending Kimmel’s right to poke fun at the president, but he’s rather isolated in that stance nowadays. Most Republicans seem unwilling to voice criticism, fearful of Trump’s wrath. They’ve traded their voting principles for something else entirely.
Upon returning to his show this week, Kimmel expressed thoughts that many Trump allies dare not share. He pointed out that the Trump administration appears to be pressuring local affiliates to air his shows, a situation he labeled as illegal and dangerous. “The President has made it clear that he wants to intimidate us,” Kimmel stated.
So we find ourselves at a crossroads where the court now balances Trump’s quest for retribution and Americans’ right to express their opinions, even if those opinions hurt. Trump isn’t just interested in winning; he wants to obliterate his adversaries. If that means silencing dissent, well, he’s all in.
Brendan Nihan, a political scientist at Dartmouth, noted, “What we’re witnessing is an unprecedented governmental effort to stifle unfavorable speech.” He suggested that Trump is trying to dictate what Americans are allowed to say.
And you know, I’m beginning to think Trump might actually agree with that sentiment.
During a service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, instead of calling for humility or unity, Trump revealed his stance clearly. After praising Kirk, he emphasized a different approach: “I hate my enemies,” he admitted, openly rejecting the notion of wishing them well.
This sentiment is telling. It was not during a rally or one of his infamous social media tirades but rather in a supposedly unifying moment.
And yet, silence prevails among many Republicans, a group that once stood for moral integrity and constitutional values. The quiet from those who preach love for one’s neighbor is profound, especially when their actions seem to align with a man who revels in hatred.
Furthermore, there’s hardly a peep from Trump’s allies in the media who consistently echo his sentiments without critique.
Trump has effectively turned a variety of figures—including politicians and members of the clergy—into his adoring supporters. I sometimes wonder if a pep rally is next.
The pressing question arises: what are they really backing?
This isn’t about a sacred right to freely express one’s thoughts without the fear of governmental retribution. What they support is a vision of the presidency as a means to reward loyalists, penalize dissenters, and suffocate opposing voices.
In closing, I draw from the Gospels and echo Sir Thomas More’s sentiment: what good does it do to sell one’s soul? But does that resonate with Donald Trump?
