Democrats have launched a digital ad campaign targeting House Republicans, accusing former President Donald Trump of undermining free speech following the suspension of comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s show.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) initiated a new digital advertising campaign on Wednesday, highlighting what it describes as former President Donald Trump’s “ongoing attacks on free speech.” This campaign follows the recent suspension of comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night television show, which has drawn significant attention and controversy.
The ads will focus on several House Republicans in swing districts who are facing tough re-election battles in the upcoming midterms. The campaign will be featured across various conservative and independent media platforms, including popular podcasts hosted by Joe Rogan and Ben Shapiro, which resonate strongly with younger and male audiences.
The DNC’s campaign comes in response to ABC’s decision to temporarily pull Kimmel’s show off the air after his comments regarding the alleged assassin of conservative activist Charlie Kirk sparked outrage and a veiled threat from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The suspension of Kimmel has ignited backlash among Democrats, progressives, and even some prominent conservatives, who argue that the late-night host is being punished for exercising his right to free speech. Conversely, many Republicans contend that Kimmel’s remarks, which suggested that Kirk’s suspected killer was affiliated with the MAGA movement, were both outrageous and unfounded.
ABC reinstated Kimmel on Monday, and his program returned to the air on Tuesday night. However, approximately 60 affiliated stations owned by Nextar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group opted to preempt the show.
The DNC asserted in a statement, “The American people don’t support attacks on free speech, which is why Trump is losing support among independent and conservative voters.” They emphasized that the Republican base is fracturing, with notable figures such as Megyn Kelly, Ted Cruz, and Ben Shapiro publicly distancing themselves from the former president’s administration.
The DNC’s advertisement features a clip of Trump from the early days of his second administration, where he declared, “On day one, I signed an executive order to stop all government censorship.” The ad’s narrator later claimed, “Trump wants to control what you see so he can control what you think.”
This campaign, which is backed by a modest budget in the five-figure range, will specifically target the congressional districts of Republican Representatives Rob Wittman and Jen Kiggans from Virginia, Brian Fitzpatrick from Pennsylvania, and Tom Kean Jr. from New Jersey.
The DNC stated, “It’s clear Donald Trump only cares about silencing his critics — and now, voters across the country and in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey are going to hear about it.”
Trump and many of his allies, who have long positioned themselves as advocates for free speech, have criticized those who have spoken out against Kirk since the conservative activist’s assassination earlier this month. The former president welcomed ABC’s initial decision to suspend Kimmel and has suggested revoking the broadcast licenses of networks that he believes treat him unfairly.
DNC Chair Ken Martin expressed to Fox News, “Donald Trump’s administration has amassed a chilling record of restricting speech, extorting private companies, and dropping the full weight of the government censorship hammer on Americans simply exercising their First Amendment rights. This is no exaggeration, and it’s splintering the coalition that got Trump elected.” He further claimed that Trump is “attempting to silence people. It’s un-American, and Democrats won’t stand for it.”
During the administrations of Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Republicans and conservatives frequently criticized what they perceived as efforts to suppress free speech, accusing Democrats of promoting “cancel culture.” In response to recent events, Trump and his allies have framed their actions as a shift from “cancel culture” to “consequence culture.”
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