Top Trump official Stephen Miller’s recent declaration that anyone who “preaches hate for America” will face deportation has ignited alarm online, with critics warning the statement disregards First Amendment protections.

Social media users and legal analysts raised immediate concerns, pointing out that expressing dissent or criticism of the government is protected under the First Amendment. Some worried the administration was veering into authoritarian territory.

The backlash has reignited broader debates over the limits of free speech, especially as civil liberties fall under scrutiny. While immigration enforcement remains a core theme of President Donald Trump’s platform, critics are increasingly questioning whether rhetoric like Miller’s is a precursor to more aggressive suppression of dissent.

  • underwater@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    77
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    4 days ago

    The whole party is a cult now. I got banned from the conservative subreddit just for asking - as a conservative myself - what conservative values they think a criminal like him is embodying. What exactly is he conserving? This man has cheated on all of his wives, is a racist, extremely egotistical, etc. He’s closer to the Antichrist than the second coming of Christ. His entire admin is just birds of a feather.

    • Madison420@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      53
      ·
      4 days ago

      This is part of the issue.

      That is the conservative platform and has been for as long as I’ve been alive, he is accurately representing them hence the lack of pushback.

      That said yes he’s so very close to the anti Christ’s description it’s not even funny.

      I don’t know you and I don’t want to judge or tell you what you are or sound like but from that description you’re more left of center then right.

      • Kecessa@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        29
        ·
        4 days ago

        It’s funny because “true conservatives” usually mean they are fiscally conservatives and if we look at Canada the most fiscally conservatives governments (i.e. the ones that ran the least deficits whole in power) are the ones on the left side of the political spectrum.

        • floofloof@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          21
          ·
          4 days ago

          That tends to be the case in many countries because the left are under so much scrutiny they have to be very careful with budgets. The right, on the other hand, are given a pass to do all kinds of irresponsible things because they are assumed to be “fiscally responsible” and their supporters only want to hear them say “tax cut” a few times and they’re satisfied.

          • Kecessa@sh.itjust.works
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            16
            ·
            edit-2
            4 days ago

            That and social programs are actually cost effective. Give access to education to people, they end up with better jobs and repay the investment via taxes. Give them access to healthcare, they can keep working instead of being disabled for life because they couldn’t get treatments. House them, they can find work.

            • floofloof@lemmy.ca
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              10
              ·
              4 days ago

              For all their professed know-how with money, conservatives have never understood the idea of investing in society for a long-term return. They’re always very short-sighted.

              • SabinStargem@lemmy.today
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                6
                ·
                4 days ago

                I am hoping that it is one of the factors that leads to the Trump Reich being obliterated. The good guys actually tries to make sure their society works.

        • Ledericas@lemm.ee
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          4 days ago

          currently conservatives, in most govt around the world, is mostly Right wing or ALT-RIGHT now.

      • underwater@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        21
        arrow-down
        7
        ·
        4 days ago

        I don’t know. Before Trump, the conservative platform was actually conservative - though of course there were extremist fringes. But Trump sparked a sudden transition to extreme nationalist populism, which validated and legitimized those fringes, making them mainstream. Now, that ideology is the de facto face of conservatism. It’s depressing. I’ve considered myself a conservative Democrat since the 2015-2016 election cycle.

        • Impleader@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          26
          ·
          4 days ago

          You’re not wrong about “conservatism” undergoing a rapid metamorphosis in the past decade, but it was only possible in the first place because republicans put party before principle, and they’ve been doing that for a long time.

          In the Bush era, how many times did the “party of small government” tell you it needed to restrict abortion, regulate marriage rights, wage a war on drugs, and expand the surveillance state? There was no rhyme or reason to any of it other than culture wars and security theater, and it certainly wasn’t part of some coherent conservative ideology.

        • Madison420@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          18
          ·
          4 days ago

          sudden transition to extreme nationalist populism,

          White nationalists terrorists down to like McVey were all conservatives for reason and it isn’t love and inclusion.

        • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          9
          ·
          4 days ago

          I don’t know. Before Trump, the conservative platform was actually conservative

          No it wasn’t. Not since at least Eisenhower.

        • Ledericas@lemm.ee
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          4 days ago

          its because OBAMA broke thier minds, they couldnt handle a half-black, muslim was the POTUS.

      • Ledericas@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        4 days ago

        The DINOS are in on it, but they cant come against the gop, for fear of getting primaried. we know for a while manchin and sinema are just 2 of the many Dinos in the senate, hence also the reason of the lack of pushback.

    • grue@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      22
      ·
      4 days ago

      The conservative value he’s embodying is authoritarianism. That’s it; that’s what conservatism has always been ever since Burke and DeMaistre, who were literally monarchists, invented the concept.

      I’m sorry that you got sold a lie, but what you thought conservatism was was never correct.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4CI2vk3ugk

    • rayyy@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      4 days ago

      People today don’t know what conservatism is about. It is definitely left of today’s far right Republican party.