Trump has managed another Republican makeover since Kirk’s assassination, this time on free speech
September 22, 2025
As they mourn slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, President Donald Trump, members of his administration and a broader universe of supporters have seemed to impose a double standard on speech. They have been targeting those who have been critical of Kirk’s often confrontational approach and celebrated when employees were disciplined or fired over their comments — most recently when ABC indefinitely suspended late night host Jimmy Kimmel. Trump allies defend the approach, saying they’re replacing “cancel culture” with “consequence culture.” But others fear a broader crackdown on speech under the guise of preventing violence and fighting “hate speech.”