Eight months into his second term, President Donald Trump’s long-standing pledge to take on those he perceives as his political enemies has prompted debates over free speech, media censorship and political prosecutions.
From late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension to Pentagon restrictions on reporters, Trump has escalated moves to consolidate power in his second administration and root out those who have spoken out against him.
In a post on social media this weekend addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump said “nothing is being done” on investigations into some of his foes.
“We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility,” he said. Noting that he was impeached and criminally charged, “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”
Criticizing investigations into Trump’s dealings under Democratic President Joe Biden’s Justice Department, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said Sunday that “it is not right for the Trump administration to do the same thing.”
Directive to Bondi to investigate political opponents
Trump has ratcheted up his discussion of pursuing legal cases against some of his political opponents, part of a vow for retribution that has been a theme of his return to the White House. He publicly pressed Bondi this weekend to move forward with such investigations.
Trump posted somewhat of an open letter on social media Saturday to his top prosecutor to advance such inquiries, including a mortgage fraud probe into New York Attorney General Letitia James and a possible threat case against former FBI Director James Comey.
He indicated that he had “reviewed over 30 statements and posts” criticizing his administration for its inaction on these investigations. “We have to act fast — one way or the other,” Trump stated. “If they’re not guilty, that’s fine. If they are guilty or if they should be charged, they should be charged. And we have to do it now.”
Trump later noted that Bondi was “doing a GREAT job.”
Paul expressed concerns about a president directing investigations against political opponents, declaring “lawfare in all forms” unjust. Meanwhile, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., labored under the opinion that it was “unconstitutional and deeply immoral for the president to jail or to silence his political enemies.”
Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer criticized Trump for using the Justice Department to target enemies, stating that such actions echo those of dictators.
The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment.
Appointment of new prosecutor in Letitia James investigation
In a move consistent with how new presidents appoint their own U.S. attorneys, Trump has begun to fill various regional attorney positions with loyalists. Recently, Trump nominated Lindsey Halligan to be the U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, the office investigating James, who has been a consistent adversary of Trump.
Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the former U.S. attorney, Erik Siebert, who had resigned the previous day, describing Siebert's prior support from Democratic senators as troubling.
New restrictions on Pentagon reporters
Despite his previous promises to restore free speech, under a new Pentagon directive, credentialed journalists will face tougher restrictions—including a policy requiring them to pledge against reporting unapproved information, risking their access if they fail to comply, sparking controversy about the administration’s view on media freedom.
Jimmy Kimmel ouster and FCC warning
The indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s show sparked outrage and discussions about censorship, prompting Trump to celebrate the action, while the FCC chairman suggested potential accountability measures involving Kimmel’s network. Some Republicans defended the move as a corporate decision, while others expressed concerns over the implications for free speech.
