Policy Forum

Will President Trump Threaten Free Speech?

February 3, 2017 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM EST

Hayek Auditorium, Cato Institute

Featuring Flemming Rose, Senior Fellow, Cato Institute; Robert Corn‐Revere, Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP; and Francis H. Buckley, Foundation Professor, George Mason University’s Scalia School of Law; author of The Way Back: Restoring the Promise of America and columnist, New York Post; moderated by John Samples, Vice President and Publisher, Cato Institute.

During the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump promised to “open up” libel laws to make it easier to sue news organizations. He also criticized political donors for fostering corruption and misrule. Later, as president‐elect, Trump criticized First Amendment protections accorded to flag burning. His critics say these statements indicate President Trump may seriously undermine free speech. His defenders doubt that, and note that Trump has actually fought censorship by confronting political correctness. He has also pioneered using social media to campaign and, in all likelihood, to govern. Finally, apart from his own actions, President Trump will nominate new members of the U.S. Supreme Court, the final arbiter in First Amendment cases. Will President Trump be good or bad for free speech? Please join us as three First Amendment experts assess what’s to come.