TOOLKIT: ATTACKS ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Donald Trump’s consistent attack on the Freedom of Speech is a violation of his oath to uphold the constitution and follow our nation’s laws. From banning the Associate Press from briefings, to imprisoning peaceful protestors, to cutting funding to colleges for inclusive programming, Donald Trump is waging a direct assault on the First Amendment and is a brazen attack on free speech and a reckless violation of constitutional limits.

We all know America’s views and backgrounds remain diverse but Donald Trump is no friend to those he disagrees with. While Trump’s tactics against free speech have enhanced from his first term, his goal remains the same: to divide, distract, and silence political opponents.

• Revoking press credentials of media that disagree with Trump

• Threatening federal funding for colleges who have diversity, equity, and inclusion programs

• Deporting and imprisoning protestors that disagree with Trump

1. Define Trump’s actions as a direct attack on our free speech rights and is a “political tactic” used to divide us.

2. Explain the “why”: Trump is trying to distract us from the issues that matter most, like the cost of living and soaring healthcare costs. All the while he gives massive tax cuts to billionaires.

3. Call Out the Abuse: Donald Trump is waging a direct assault on the First Amendment and is a flagrant abuse of presidential power.

• Donald Trump is trying to divide us, that’s why he’s focused on silencing his opponents and punishing colleges for providing inclusive programs. His attacks on free speech are just to score political points and distract us from the real issues that matter like inflation and the cost of living.

• In America, we believe all ideas have merit and should be heard. But Donald Trump’s attack on free speech is unamerican and hurts us all. Banning the press, deporting protestors, and cutting inclusive education will not lower the price of eggs but we know the truth: Trump wants to silence political opposition and censor ideas he disagrees with.

• Donald Trump wants to divide us by race, religion, and sexual orientation because he thinks it’ll gain him more political power.

• Donald Trump is threatening to withhold hundreds of millions of federal dollars from the Ohio State University unless the curriculum he disagrees with is censored.

• Defend Every Student’s Right to Learn

• TAKE ACTION: Ohio Bills 2025-2026

Protect Free Speech Content

• Students’ Rights: Speech, Walkouts, and Other Protests

• Protesters’ Rights

• Protesters: Know Your Rights!

• Know Your Rights: Rights Versus Reality

• The First Amendment: 7 things you need to know

• THE FIRST AMENDMENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

• What Students Lose When School Becomes a Political Battleground

• Free Speech: Court Cases

• How Trump’s Proposed Radical Expansion of Executive Power Will Impact Our Freedoms

• 10 Books Politicians Don’t Want You to Read

• Highlighting Banned Books by Black Authors for Black History Month

• Trump’s federal funding crackdown includes troubling attacks on free speech

• Trump campaigned as a protector of free speech. Critics say his actions as president threaten it

• Report: The Free Speech Recession Hits Home

• Sub. Senate Bill 1 – Opponent Testimony

• Senate Bill 1 – Opponent Testimony

• Stop Senate Bill 1: The Higher Education Destruction Act

• Help Stop Ohio SB 1.docx

• Ohio Senate reintroduced as Senate Bill 1

• Ohio’s Education Unions Call for Amendments to SB 1

• Ohio SB 1 messages for protest signs / social media graphics

• Stand up to Oppose Senate Bill 1, the reintroduction of SB 83!

• Stop Senate Bill 1!

• Banning TikTok is Unconstitutional. The Supreme Court Must Step In.

• TikTok ban violates Americans’ First Amendment rights