Trump Responds to Questions on Hate Speech
During a press event on Tuesday, President Donald Trump was asked about Attorney General Pam Bondy’s stance on indicting individuals for hate speech. Bondi mentioned on “The Katie Miller Podcast” that the Department of Justice is focusing on this issue, particularly following the recent assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. ABC News correspondent John Carl queried if Trump aligned with Bondi, who asserts that hate speech falls under First Amendment protections.
Carl pointed out, “Pam Bondi says she’ll go after hate speech. Many of your allies claim hate speech is free speech.”
Trump retorted, “They’ll probably go after people like you. It’s hatred because you treat me unfairly. There’s a lot of hatred in your heart. Maybe they’ll target ABC.” (Related: Trump suggests the alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk was radicalized online.)
In December 2024, ABC agreed to pay $15 million to settle a lawsuit involving Trump’s network, which claimed wrongful liability for a rape case. Trump is also suing the Wall Street Journal, accusing them of misrepresenting him regarding sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and a female figure on a New York Times birthday card.
Criticism of Bondy’s comments has come from conservatives like Matt Walsh of Daily Wire and Joel Berry from Babylon Bee. Stephen Miller, a senior policy advisor, responded that “we shouldn’t emulate the ACLU from the mid-90s.”
Bondi quickly clarified her statements, asserting that only speech involving threats of violence would lead to indictments.
