Elon Musk highlights Harris’ old Trump ban plea during Kimmel controversy

In a striking clash of past and present, Elon Musk has reignited a debate over free speech by resurfacing a 2019 tweet from Vice President Kamala Harris calling for Donald Trump’s Twitter suspension.

New York Post reported that this controversy intertwines Harris’ recent criticism of the Trump administration’s alleged role in Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension from ABC with her earlier stance on silencing Trump, sparking discussions on censorship and power.

Back on Sept. 30, 2019, Harris, then a U.S. senator and vice presidential candidate, posted a tweet urging the suspension of Trump’s Twitter account. She wrote, “Look let’s be honest, @realDonaldTrump’s Twitter account should be suspended.” This statement has now been brought back into the spotlight by Musk.

Revisiting Harris’ Call for Social Media Restrictions

Musk reposted Harris’ 2019 tweet on Friday, adding only a thinking face emoji as commentary. This action came amid a heated political storm over free speech and media influence.

Fast forward to the present, Harris has taken a different tone, criticizing Disney’s decision to indefinitely suspend Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show on ABC. She labeled the move as an “outright abuse of power” by the Trump administration.

On Twitter/X, Harris emphasized her belief that critics are being silenced through fear tactics. She stated, “What we are witnessing is an outright abuse of power.”

Kimmel’s Suspension Sparks Broader Censorship Concerns

Harris continued, “This administration is attacking critics and using fear as a weapon to silence anyone who would speak out.” She added, “Media corporations — from television networks to newspapers — are capitulating to these threats.”

In a separate statement, Harris declared, “We cannot dare to be silent or complacent in the face of this frontal assault on free speech.” She concluded, “We, the people, deserve better.”

Kimmel’s suspension stemmed from comments he made criticizing conservatives over their response to an assassination attempt on Charlie Kirk. He accused them of downplaying ideological connections of the accused, Tyler Robinson, saying, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”

Political Reactions to Kimmel’s Show Removal

The decision to pull Kimmel’s show has drawn varied political reactions. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, acknowledged Kimmel’s falsehoods, stating, “What he is saying is Jimmy Kimmel was lying.” Cruz added, “That’s true, he was lying, and lying to the American people is not in the public interest.”

Cruz also raised concerns over threats to cancel ABC’s broadcast license, noting, “He threatens explicitly — we’re going to cancel ABC News’ license.” He warned of the precedent this could set for conservatives in media.

The Federal Communications Commission’s role in the suspension has also come under scrutiny. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr defended the move on Sept. 17, asserting, “Broadcasters are different than any other form of communication.” He praised local affiliates for prioritizing community interests.

FCC and White House Weigh In on Debate

Carr further questioned the FCC’s past decisions, saying, “Over the years, the FCC walked away from enforcing that public interest obligation.” He added, “I don’t think we’re better off as a country for it.”

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified on Saturday that the decision to remove Kimmel was made by ABC executives. She stated, “The decision to fire Jimmy Kimmel and to cancel his show came from executives at ABC.” Leavitt assured there was no direct pressure from the White House or the president.

This incident adds to ongoing concerns about censorship tied to the Biden-Harris administration, which faced scrutiny for past interactions with social media platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, then-press secretary Jen Psaki admitted the administration flagged “problematic posts” for Facebook to review, and in August 2024, Mark Zuckerberg confirmed pressure from the administration to censor content ahead of the presidential election.