Looking back through history, all dictators and totalitarian regimes begin their reign with the first step of total control: censorship. Hearing that yet another late-night host was fired because of their criticism of our President confirmed my fears that the Trump administration has evolved into an authoritarian and corrupt state.
July 4th, 1776: the day our country was founded and the Declaration of Independence adopted. In this foundational document of the U.S. we had declared to British rulers that our fundamental rights here in America are, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Our VERY first amendment to our constitution grants the freedom of speech, press, and to petition the government. In summary, America was founded based on the idea that citizens should have the right to call out their government and to state their opinions. Censorship of any kind directly contradicts these ideas, directly contradicts our fundamental ideas and rights.
Most recently, the Trump Administration has ventured to cancel both Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert’s late-night comedy specials by cutting their funds. These two comedians both on several occasions ridicule President Trump and oppose his ideas and movement. However, it is their first amendment right to, and the President cutting their funding because they call out his flaws illuminates the dictator President Trump has become.
Jimmy Kimmel, whose late night show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, was cancelled and uncancelled preached these same sentiments in his returning monologue. Kimmel spoke, “Our government cannot be allowed to control what we do and do not say on television.” There is no ifs or buts to that statement— because of our first amendment and our freedom of speech and press, Kimmel and every other citizen can say whatever they want. Even if it is against the current administration. Thankfully ABC realized this and reinstated Jimmy Kimmel Live, but it doesn’t change the statement that the Trump Administration sent: that if you contradict or call out President Trump you can face consequences. This new precedent that has been adopted in our nation should send fear to all Americans regardless of what you believe about our President, regardless of your political ideologies. Americans should be fearful of the authoritarian state our executive branch has become.
The new leap towards totalitarianism America has taken reflects other countries who were taken over by fascist dictators. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum states, “When the Nazis came to power in 1933, the German constitution guaranteed freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Through decrees and laws, the Nazis abolished these civil rights and destroyed German democracy. Starting in 1934, it was illegal to criticize the Nazi government. Even telling a joke about Hitler was considered treachery.” Jimmy Kimmel told a joke about Donald Trump, the U.S. constitution guaranteed him rights allowing him to do so, and he was fired. These direct parallels cannot be ignored.
Dictators don’t resign, they don’t step down when they’ve gone too far. It will be up to Americans to stand up for our fundamental rights and for our freedom. It will be up to us to bring this country to a better state, and mold our future into the dream our founding fathers fought for.