--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Trump loves free speech only when he or…" description: "\"Trump loves free speech only when he or his supporters are speaking.\" — Kirsten Powers" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/kirsten-powers-9672_communication_trump-loves-free-speech-only-when-he-or_83806.png" --- # Trump loves free speech only when he or his supporters are… ![“Trump loves free speech only when he or his supporters are speaking.” quote by Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/kirsten-powers-9672_communication_trump-loves-free-speech-only-when-he-or_83806.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/kirsten-powers-9672_communication_trump-loves-free-speech-only-when-he-or_83806.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/kirsten-powers-9672_communication_trump-loves-free-speech-only-when-he-or_83806.png) > “Trump loves free speech only when he or his supporters are speaking.” [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement critiques selective advocacy for free speech, exposing hypocrisy when it serves personal or partisan interests. **In simple terms:** Selective free‑speech advocacy Key Takeaway Freedom of speech is often applied inconsistently Themes hypocrisy political bias civil liberties power dynamics media criticism Mood skeptical critical ironic Type political commentary satire When to use this quote - political rallies - media interviews - social media debates - legislative hearings - campaign speeches Key Concepts speech rights political rhetoric bias public discourse Practical Applications - media analysis - civic education Questions to Reflect On - How does selective speech protection affect public trust? - What mechanisms can ensure consistent defense of free speech? A Different Perspective Critics argue that all free‑speech advocates, regardless of affiliation, should defend the principle uniformly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Free speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-speech/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) ## Related quotes > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [And, I hope now that everybody understands that the Labour Party - as it always has done - stands for free speech and individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-davies/and-i-hope-now-that-everybody-understands-that-the-labour-party-as-it/) [Ron Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-davies/) > [Money is speech. It's incongruous to say a multimillionaire can spend as much on his own campaign as he wants, but you can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-stone/money-is-speech-it-s-incongruous-to-say-a-multimillionaire-can-spend/) [Roger Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-stone/) > [I have no problem with free speech, but free speech and then silencing your opposition - boy, I have a problem with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomi-lahren/i-have-no-problem-with-free-speech-but-free-speech-and-then-silencing/) [Tomi Lahren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomi-lahren/) > [“You have the right to free speech. We, the corporate controlled government, have the right to ignore you and we choose to exercise this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/you-have-the-right-to-free-speech-we-the-corporate-controlled/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > ['Free speech' isn't speech at all if it's being used without listening, attention, or care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-morton/free-speech-isn-t-speech-at-all-if-it-s-being-used-without-listening/) [Timothy Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-morton/) > [Free speech has a very small constituency on the modern campus, particularly if the speaker under attack is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leo/free-speech-has-a-very-small-constituency-on-the-modern-campus/) [John Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leo/) > [“On the one hand, freedom of speech guarantees a lack of freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/on-the-one-hand-freedom-of-speech-guarantees-a-lack-of-freedom/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [All you need to know about Donald Trump is he loves his family and he loves this country. And he's going to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/all-you-need-to-know-about-donald-trump-is-he-loves-his-family-and-he/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [Trump loves the media. Trump understands the power it has and, accordingly, loves the people who have media power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/trump-loves-the-media-trump-understands-the-power-it-has-and/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) > [Donadld Trump loves loyalty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/donadld-trump-loves-loyalty/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Trump loves hate. Trump is afraid. Trump is always wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-dujardin/trump-loves-hate-trump-is-afraid-trump-is-always-wrong/) [Jean Dujardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-dujardin/) > [Donald Trump loves America. He wants it to be the greatest place on earth. He thinks political people have made it the mess that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-loves-america-he-wants-it-to-be-the-greatest-place-on/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [They don't want to get dirty and they know that Trump loves this kind of thing. And your polls, and yours are what's giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/they-don-t-want-to-get-dirty-and-they-know-that-trump-loves-this-kind/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [Judd Trump loves playing against the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hendry/judd-trump-loves-playing-against-the-top-players/) [Stephen Hendry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hendry/) ## More by Kirsten Powers > [Illiberal feminists turn simple ideological disagreements, whether about the federal budget or the Second Amendment or anything else, into excuses to engage in character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/illiberal-feminists-turn-simple-ideological-disagreements-whether/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Within the paradigm of Democratic politics, even though people probably think I'm a centrist, I'm more a liberal, except for abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/within-the-paradigm-of-democratic-politics-even-though-people/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Protesters can't violate First Amendment rights. Only the government can do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/protesters-can-t-violate-first-amendment-rights-only-the-government/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Women are often forced to maintain good relations with men who abuse them precisely because those men have power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/women-are-often-forced-to-maintain-good-relations-with-men-who-abuse/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [If I had a dollar for every time somebody said, 'I don't understand: how can you be a Democrat and be a Christian?' I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-somebody-said-i-don-t-understand-how/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [It's true that Americans are less than thrilled with President Obama and congressional Democrats. Their approval ratings are nothing to celebrate. But electoral politics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/it-s-true-that-americans-are-less-than-thrilled-with-president-obama/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Women likely are rejecting Trump because they know the presidential race isn't just about taxes or ISIL or immigration. It's about their place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/women-likely-are-rejecting-trump-because-they-know-the-presidential/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Bernie is a problem Hillary can't figure out how to solve, perhaps because he's not the problem. She is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/bernie-is-a-problem-hillary-can-t-figure-out-how-to-solve-perhaps/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Perhaps all of our anxiety is not caused by broken brains but by working nonstop, missing out on time with our friends and families…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/perhaps-all-of-our-anxiety-is-not-caused-by-broken-brains-but-by/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [I've been harassed or on the receiving end of sexist and inappropriate behavior almost every place I've ever worked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/i-ve-been-harassed-or-on-the-receiving-end-of-sexist-and/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Trump may not like the fact that 20-plus anonymous sources provided the 'Times' with an unflattering portrait of his campaign, but that doesn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/trump-may-not-like-the-fact-that-20-plus-anonymous-sources-provided/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Donald Trump has a curious understanding of what freedom of speech means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/donald-trump-has-a-curious-understanding-of-what-freedom-of-speech/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [I know I deal with it, I'm sure a lot of other people deal with it: you have that little funny dig you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/i-know-i-deal-with-it-i-m-sure-a-lot-of-other-people-deal-with-it-you/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [People are really nice at Fox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/people-are-really-nice-at-fox/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Women cannot be equal participants in a society that views sexual assault and sexual harassment the way Donald Trump and his defenders do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/women-cannot-be-equal-participants-in-a-society-that-views-sexual/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) [Explore all 71 Kirsten Powers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) ## More Communication quotes > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/) [John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/) > [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/) [Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/) > [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/) [Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/) > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/) [Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/) > [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/) Yoram Wind > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) [Browse all 21,506 Communication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Trump loves free speech only when he or his supporters are speaking.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kirsten Powers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/trump-loves-free-speech-only-when-he-or-his-supporters-are-speaking/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Communication" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/trump-loves-free-speech-only-when-he-or-his-supporters-are-speaking/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/kirsten-powers-9672_communication_trump-loves-free-speech-only-when-he-or_83806.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/kirsten-powers-9672_communication_trump-loves-free-speech-only-when-he-or_83806.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0f/kirsten-powers-9672_communication_trump-loves-free-speech-only-when-he-or_83806.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Trump loves free speech only when he or his supporters are speaking.” — Kirsten Powers", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kirsten Powers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Trump loves free speech only when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/trump-loves-free-speech-only-when-he-or-his-supporters-are-speaking/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/trump-loves-free-speech-only-when-he-or-his-supporters-are-speaking/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```