Trump Says He “Took Away” Free Speech

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a controversial statement during a White House roundtable on October 8, 2025, President Donald Trump claimed, “‘We took the freedom of speech away, because that’s been through the courts, and the courts said you have freedom of speech but what has happened is when they burn the flag it agitates and irritates crowds.”.

The remark came while discussing protests and Antifa, drawing immediate attention from civil liberties advocates. Supreme Court precedent protects flag burning as symbolic speech, raising questions about the constitutionality of Trump’s statement and related executive actions targeting flag desecration.

Legal experts warn that any attempt to restrict protected expression could face serious challenges, even as the administration argues such measures are necessary to prevent public unrest.