Donald Trump speaking at a rally. Source : Pixabay
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a policy proposal aimed at protecting free speech to be enacted if he is re-elected in 2024.
The policy proposal seeks to address censorship of American citizens in both online spaces and in institutions such as universities.
In a video posted to Mr Trump’s social media website, Truth Social, he announced his intention to ensure free speech is sufficiently protected.
“If we don’t have free speech, then we just don’t have a free country,” Mr Trump said.
“If this most fundamental right is allowed to perish, then the rest of our rights and liberties will topple, just like dominos, one by one.” He said.
Donald Trump free speech policy announcement. Source : @realdonaldtrump on Truth Social
The policy proposal, and Mr Trump’s future plans, includes banning federal agencies from using taxpayer dollars in activities that label speech as misinformation or disinformation.
Mr Trump seeks to suspend federal funding for universities who are engaged in activities supporting censorship.
The policy proposal seeks to enact criminal penalties for federal bureaucrats who have partnered with any private entity to conduct censorship activities violating the Constitution.
Mr Trump, in his video, discusses five steps that he would take if re-elected to begin enacting his policy.
“First, within hours of my inauguration, I will sign an executive order banning any federal department or agency from colluding with any organisation, business, or person to censor, limit, categorise, or impede the lawful speech of American citizens.” Mr Trump said.
“Second, I will order the Department of Justice to investigate all parties involved in the new online censorship regime…and to aggressively prosecute any and all crimes identified.
“Third, upon my inauguration as president, I will ask Congress to send a bill to my desk revising Section 230, to get big online platforms out of censorship business.
“Fourth, we need to break up the entire toxic censorship industry that has arisen under the false guise of tackling so-called ‘mis-‘ and ‘disinformation.
“The federal government should immediately stop funding all non-profits and academic programs that support this authoritarian project.
“Fifth, the time has finally come for Congress to pass a digital bull of rights.
“This should include a right to digital due process.” He said.
Professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington Stephen Farnsworth responded to the proposal by calling it a bid to generate energy amongst Mr Trump’s supporters for 2024.
“This is not a plan that would ever succeed legislatively or judicially if it came to that” Mr Farnsworth said.
Mr Trump’s policy announcement has recently become overshadowed by the release of a collection of official NFTs.
