John,
Free speech is the foundation of our democracy, which no president can take away.
Donald Trump is once again attacking one of our most cherished democratic values: the right to speak freely. In a late-night rant, he demanded that the Federal Election Commission (FEC) investigate artists like Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Oprah, and Bono -- simply because they dared to speak up against him.
Trump’s claims are baseless. There’s no evidence whatsoever that any of these public figures were paid for their endorsements or political statements. What’s clear is that Trump is trying to weaponize government agencies to punish dissent, silence critics, and intimidate anyone who speaks out against him.
But the First Amendment doesn’t carve out exceptions for musicians, actors, or activists, or any other public figures. It protects everyone -- from global superstars to you and me -- because for democracy to thrive, we need open debate, diverse voices, and the ability to challenge those in power.
Whether it’s Beyoncé or Taylor Swift endorsing candidates, Oprah urging people to vote, Bono spotlighting global injustices, or Bruce Springsteen condemning corruption -- these artists are using their platforms to speak out, as is their constitutional right.
Tell the FEC to reject Trump’s baseless, political witch-hunt against performers who have used their First Amendment rights to speak out against him.
Trump pulled a figure out of the air -- $11 million -- to claim the Harris campaign paid Beyonce for her endorsement. There’s no record anywhere of such a figure. Beyonce incurred Trump’s wrath when she issued him a cease and desist order to stop playing “Freedom” at his campaign rallies, while she encouraged Kamala Harris to use it as her theme song.
Trump is also still seething from Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Harris. His Truth Social trolling of her is both full of hate and old-school sexist, as he wrote “Has anyone noticed that, since I said 'I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,' she's no longer 'HOT?'”
Oprah earned herself a place on Trump’s enemies list by warning Americans the night before the election that if we didn’t vote the next day, it might be our last opportunity. And Bono aimed his criticisms at the sudden dismantling of the US Agency for International Development, certain to lead to an untold number of deaths worldwide due to starvation and disease.
Meanwhile, Bruce Springsteen took no prisoners at a recent concert in Manchester, England, where he said “the America I love… is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration.”
We cannot allow Trump to turn the FEC into a tool for censorship. This isn’t just about celebrities. It’s about setting a dangerous precedent. If powerful voices can be silenced for criticizing a president, then so can students, teachers, workers -- any one of us.
Tell the FEC: Reject Trump’s sham investigation. Defend the First Amendment. Protect free speech for all.
Because in a free country, no one should fear political retaliation for telling the truth.
- DFA AF Team
