In America, free speech is often championed as a bedrock principle, a sacred right enshrined in the First Amendment. Yet, in practice, both major political parties—Republicans and Democrats—are guilty of selectively supporting free speech only when it aligns with their ideological agendas. While they loudly decry censorship when it affects their own side, they eagerly embrace suppression when it aligns with their political interests. The result? A bipartisan attack on the very foundation of free expression.
The Right’s Selective Outrage
Republicans portray themselves as defenders of free speech, criticizing “cancel culture” and the censorship of conservative voices on social media. They condemn tech companies for deplatforming individuals who express controversial views on COVID-19, election fraud, and gender identity. However, when it comes to books in schools, discussions on race, or protests they oppose—such as pro-Palestinian activism—their commitment to free speech seems to vanish suddenly.
Conservative-led states have enacted bans on books that address race and history. They have pushed laws that penalize teachers for discussing systemic racism and have cracked down on protest movements they oppose. It seems that free speech is only a priority when conservatives are the ones being silenced.
When President Donald Trump publicly targets Republicans who disagree with him by calling for primary challenges, it can create a chilling effect within the political landscape. This tactic discourages open debate within the party, as politicians may prioritize political survival over independent judgment. The threat of being labeled disloyal or facing a well-funded challenger backed by Trump can suppress dissent, weakening ideological diversity within the Republican Party. While this is not a violation of free speech in a legal sense, it highlights the broader issue of political conformity and the consequences of going against an influential party figure.
The Left’s Hypocrisy
Democrats, meanwhile, position themselves as the party of civil liberties, denouncing government overreach and standing up for free expression—except when they don’t. While they condemn Republican-led book bans, they have been at the forefront of government pressure campaigns against social media companies, urging them to remove so-called “misinformation.” Their push for hate speech laws often teeters into dangerous territory where legitimate political discourse is silenced under the guise of protecting marginalized communities.
Perhaps most glaringly, the Biden administration and Democratic lawmakers have supported the deplatforming of individuals who question mainstream narratives on public health, elections, and foreign policy. Under Joe Biden, the Democrats leaned on tech giants to suppress viewpoints, it is no different from a Republican-led legislature banning certain books—it’s just censorship wearing a different political jersey.
Even Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, recently admitted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Biden administration pressured Facebook and Instagram to censor certain content, including satire about COVID-19 policies. In an August 2024 letter to the House Judiciary Committee, Zuckerberg expressed regret for not resisting this governmental pressure more forcefully, stating that it was “wrong” and that Meta should have “pushed back more firmly.” This admission further demonstrates that the government, regardless of which party is in power, has no qualms about leveraging its authority to suppress speech it deems inconvenient.
The Democratic Party has experienced a decline in national support, partly due to the cancellation of voices within its own ranks that challenge dominant political narratives. Internal divisions between progressives and moderates have resulted in public infighting, primary challenges, and exclusion from key party decisions, alienating many traditional Democratic voters. Consequently, Democrats have struggled to maintain a broad coalition, especially in swing states and among working-class voters who feel disconnected from the party’s evolving priorities. If this trend persists, the party risks further electoral losses due to its failure to accommodate diverse viewpoints within its own base.
Protest Rights: A Bipartisan Attack
Both parties have shown their hypocrisy regarding protest rights. When Black Lives Matter activists took to the streets following George Floyd’s killing, Republicans labeled them “violent rioters” and advocated for aggressive policing measures. Conversely, when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6th, Democrats referred to them as “domestic terrorists” and sought sweeping legal repercussions. The reality is, both events included peaceful protesters and violent agitators, yet neither party was willing to apply the same standard to both groups.
The latest instance is the federal government’s targeting of pro-Palestinian protesters. The recent arrest and potential deportation of Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder, represent a direct assault on free expression. Republicans support the crackdown because they consider pro-Palestinian activists to be aligned with their political opponents, while Democrats largely remain silent, hesitant to defend speech that might upset their AIPAC donors and allies. Once again, principle is overshadowed by politics.
The Real Problem: Power Over Principle
The issue lies not just in hypocrisy—it’s that both parties perceive free speech as a tool rather than a principle. They are prepared to defend it only when it aligns with their political interests and discard it when it jeopardizes their grip on power. This is not a conflict between right and left; it’s a contest between those who genuinely believe in free speech and those who view it as a weapon to be used selectively.
Scripture warns against placing blind trust in political leaders. Psalm 146:3 reminds us, “Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.” This verse speaks directly to the dangers of trusting in political figures who claim to defend free speech but ultimately serve their own interests.
Furthermore, Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that our struggles are not merely political but spiritual: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” The suppression of free speech is not just a political issue—it is a manifestation of deeper corruption, where those in power seek to control thought and silence dissent.
The American public must recognize this bipartisan assault on free expression and reject the misleading idea that one party is the genuine champion of free speech. Until we hold both sides accountable, our most fundamental right will remain under threat—not by one party, but by the political establishment itself.
