There’s nothing free in this world, everything comes with a price. Especially our first amendment right of freedom of speech. Many reporters have been silenced and shut down for their commentary and criticism towards Trump’s administration.
From cutting funding to NPR and PBS, to the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s show, Trump’s administration has made an example of these people, showing he will not hesitate to go out his way to stop the criticism against him.
The Emmy winning “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” has announced its cancellation on July 17. Its network, CBS, announced the cancellation was due to financial problems. Some speculated its cancellation was due to the various negative comments and criticism Colbert had towards Trump and his administration, such as when Colbert called out the $16 million settlement between Trump and Paramount. Then following up with saying how “offended” he felt that the parent company to CBS had settled with Trump.
Although it’s not confirmed that Colbert’s show was canceled because of commentary against Trump, Trump has made it clear that he is against any news outlets that share any criticism against him, or any deceptive edits of him, Which is the same reason why Trump had sued Paramount for their “60 Minutes” interview with Kamala Harris.
Jimmy Kimmel also recently faced backlash due to his comment on the assassination of Charlie Kirk. In his opening monologue on Sep. 15, he addresses how the search for the assassin has been biased against anyone who does fit the cis male straight archetype, when in reality it was someone that was exactly that. Kimmel said that the, “MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”
After this, Jimmy Kimmel Live! was pulled off the air indefinitely until September 23rd when his show was back on air. Although Kimmel was back, two broadcast channels initially decided not to air him, Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group had wanted Kimmel to direct an apology to Kirk’s family while also providing a donation towards the family.
These examples of commentators stating their opinions towards Trump and his administration, show how the first amendment is slipping away more and more from the public. Even when it comes to a white man being shut down for what they have to say, imagine what will happen to minority groups that want to speak out against Trump.
Throughout Trump’s presidency, media outlets are scared to speak out against him. Not knowing if Trump will go out his way to shut them down just because they are expressing their freedom of speech.
