Musk said ’60 minutes’ deserved jail. That is not freedom of expression

If the Trump administration takes seriously the protection of freedom of expression, then, let’s reform the laws to protect it better. But we also encourage a culture that honors freedom of expression.

David Keating
| Opinion collaborator

When Elon Musk recently declared that “60 minutes are the largest liars in the world!” And that “they deserve a long prison sentence,” he could have joked, and I thought it was probably. But without an added context (or perhaps a “hahaha” or emoji for those who understandably could not see any humor), many reasonable people literally took their words.

Musk’s publication occurred after “60 minutes” issued a segment on cuts to the United States Agency for International Development established by its Government Efficiency Department. Musk, which often Respond to press consultations with peanut emojisThink little about conventional media companies. He criticized segment reports angry, Connecting the subject to the selective edition of the Kamala Harris interview program while running for president.

If I had stopped reporting the reports, there would be no problem. Like any American, Musk is free to passionately denounce what he sees as neglected journalism or unusual behavior of CBS News.

However, it is different when the person who urges jail for ideological opponents can be seen as potentially having the power to trigger an investigation or prosecution.

Musk’s new government power means greater responsibility

If Musk were not working for the government, there would be a different calculation. He would have spent only in his capacity as a powerful private citizen.

Here, however, Musk leads Doge and It often appears with President Donald Trump. We can discuss the nature and scope of your Dux duties. But what is not in dispute: Musk has very influential access to the acting president.

As such, comments like yours could intimidate not only journalists but any critic. It is true that CBS News is an important player and is unlikely to be intimidated, but what about the smallest media or non -profit organizations that have scarce resources and no legal team?

The threat of Musk is particularly deaf due to the public commitment to freedom of expression expressed by both by him and by the president. One of Trump’s first executive orders declared“Government’s speech censorship is intolerable in a free society.”

If the Trump administration is really worried about the first amendment, Musk needs to choose his words more carefully while working for the government.

Leaving aside any legal problem about the pressure of the illegal government or turning X into a public forum, there is an equally important issue: the need to promote a culture that encompasses freedom of expression.

From praise, vice president JD Vance recognized this need During his recent Munich speech When he said: “Bass Donald TrumpThe leadership, we can disagree with your views, but we will fight to defend your right to offer it in the public square, agree or disagree. “

We need more of this type of rhetoric and less that they can be misunderstood.

Musk and Trump have been champions of freedom of expression. We cannot lose impulse.

For your credit, Musk acquired Twitter (now x) and support expressed vocally For principles of freedom of expression, legitimately calling practices as “Shadow tray“That suppresses disadvantaged points. It established a more open debate tone, closing previous efforts to suppress political opinions, restore accounts and expose Government’s jaw efforts.

That same commitment to a culture of freedom of expression should force anyone who serves in the administration to avoid this rhetoric. It is good to criticize critics. Or call that bias. Denounce what you perceive like lies. But find time to defend your right to be wrong too.

And remember people who are a free country and you respect our right to speak.

If you are someone who does not see any problem with this type of rhetoric, or who can even be encouraging musk, imagine if a left -wing billionaire like George Soros was a close confidant of a democratic president sitting. So close, in fact, that he made frequent visits to the Oval Office or at the president’s house, received direct responsibilities in the government and participated in Joint televised interviews With the president.

Then, in this hypothetical, Soros asks that Fox News reporters be imprisoned for what he argues is “erroneous information” that threatens “democracy.”

Many Americans, including those on the right, would criticize Soros.

This situation is no different, except the political opinions of the people involved. When someone connected with the power of the Government suggests a long prison sentence due to the coverage of unfavorable or biased news, undermines freedom of expression and a free press, regardless of who does.

If the administration takes seriously the protection of freedom of expression, then, let’s reform the laws and regulations to protect it better. But we also work to foster a culture that honors freedom of expression.

David Keating is the president of the Freedom of Decision Institute.