US: Jimmy Kimmel's show taken off air
US broadcaster ABC has cancelled the late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live. On Monday's programme Kimmel commented on the killing of Charlie Kirk and suggested that Trump's allies were trying to exploit the murder. The US president himself praised the move, which leading Democrats have criticised. Commentators take a look at how freedom of expression is faring in the land of liberty.
The truth is no longer free
The cancellation of the show highlights to what extent democratic freedoms are under threat in the US, The Guardian says:
“When a regime can use the power of the law to punish speech because it does not like that speech's content, then speech is not free. When media companies change their editorial strategies not in service to their readers, but out of fear of the repercussions from the government and its allies, then the press is not free. When an honest accounting of Kirk's life leads to comedians, journalists, opinion columnists, political commentators and sports writers losing their jobs at the behest of state actors and in the service of regime interests, then the truth is not free.”
Back to witch hunts
L'Echo is reminded of the persecution of communists in the 1950s:
“When Vice President JD Vance calls on his fellow citizens to report on each other it immediately brings to mind the McCarthy era, when, at the height of the Cold War, anyone suspected of having even the slightest communist sympathies found themselves in the crosshairs of the justice system and was pilloried. With the return of what amounts to a witch hunt, the US is reviving the darkest hours of its history. ABC star presenter Jimmy Kimmel has just paid the price for this. ... Some companies are now willingly following Vance's call and declaring their willingness to 'clean up' among their staff. This is close to total allegiance.”
Maga copying the left
Freedom of expression has been attacked more by the other side in the US and Europe, says Berlingske:
“The fact that Maga is now repeating the freedom-restricting machinations of the left is an incomprehensible misfortune that must make everyone fear for the future of free speech in the United States. Yet the right to free speech is unambiguously enshrined in the Constitution. It is equally regrettable that we in Europe have put ourselves in a position where it is more difficult to criticise developments in the US. Here, too, a worrying number of things are moving in completely the wrong direction when it comes to freedom of expression. The numerous attempts of the last 20 years since the Muhammad crisis to protect religions - in other words, Islam - are just one aspect of this.”
Imagine if Obama had done this
Forum24 wonders about Trump's supporters:
“Trump has called on the media to sack journalists who ask him awkward questions. He is threatening to revoke the licences of critical television stations. ... Trump is obviously using all the powers at his disposal as president to silence criticism. It's easy to imagine how local advocates of the freedom to spread Russian disinformation would react if Barack Obama or Joe Biden had done even half of what Trump is doing now. Back then they were already complaining about censorship after social networks like Facebook and Twitter started adding explanatory and clarifying comments to some posts. Yet for some strange reason they see Trump as a president who defends freedom of expression.”
Alarming lack of protest
Where is the democratic resistance to Trump? eldiario.es wonders:
“Within the space of a few weeks he has taken down two of the country's most prominent showbiz personalities [The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will also be cancelled next spring] at no socio-political cost to himself. ... As the country's economy continues to worsen, the Epstein case drags on and the Maga world is shaken and divided by (insane) theories about Kirk's murder, Trump is sticking to his steamroller tactics. ... Most disturbing is the Democrats' absolute inability to protest. California Governor Gavin Newsom and the indefatigable Senator Bernie Sanders seem to be the only ones standing up to a man who is hell-bent on turning his country into a giant golf course.”
Europe's policy of appeasement must have limits
Trump's attacks on freedom also have consequences for Europe, De Standaard complains:
“The offensive of lies against truth and criticism is in full swing in the US. Its deterrent effect is also being felt here. Petra De Sutter, the new rector of Ghent University, has withdrawn from a trade mission to the US. As a transgender woman, she fears the risks that travelling to the US now entails. ... How are we supposed to view the images of Trump's visit to Britain against this backdrop? They rolled out every red carpet they could to flatter the US president. Trump led the way at military parades, with King Charles stumbling along behind him. Negotiating with Trump is a diplomatic tightrope walk, but appeasement has its limits.”