Freedom of Speech and Expression in the West

In an attempt to censor protesters who are demanding the recognition of Palestinians, Western leaders are placing freedom of speech and expression under threat. Related to human rights and freedom of expression, the president of the United States, Trump, posted this statement on his social media platform:

All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Reacting to the post, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) argued that while colleges must address unlawful conduct, President Trump does not have unilateral authority to revoke federal funding from institutions that allow protests, even if deemed "illegal." Federal funding decisions for colleges violating anti-discrimination laws like Title VI or Title IX require legal processes, such as court action or administrative hearings, not presidential discretion. Additionally, Trump cannot expel students, as they are entitled to due process on both public and private campuses.

FIRE statement warns that Trump's recent actions, including his 2019 executive order redefining anti-Semitism and threats to deport international students for protected speech, will stifle student protests, particularly regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This creates a chilling effect on lawful political speech, as schools may over-censor to avoid losing federal funding.

The First Amendment protects even controversial speech, and the Supreme Court has emphasized that hurtful speech on public issues must be safeguarded to ensure open debate. However, unprotected speech, such as true threats or discriminatory harassment, can and should be addressed to maintain peaceful discourse. Students accused of misconduct must still receive due process, with fair and consistent application of laws or policies.

FIRE statement concludes by urging Trump to uphold his past commitment to free expression, including for views his administration opposes, to preserve the principles of open debate and First Amendment rights.