PsyPost reports:

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that when political leaders suddenly express support for censorship, their supporters tend to adopt those same views. The findings provide evidence that the statements of prominent politicians can easily sway public opinion on foundational democratic rights like freedom of speech. This highlights how political language can influence voters to abandon long-held values in favor of restricting the rights of opposing groups.

President Donald Trump has frequently portrayed himself as a strong defender of free speech. Following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Trump and members of his administration suddenly shifted their messaging. They began to argue that speech should be restricted under certain conditions, suggesting that overly negative media coverage should not be protected by the Constitution.

Matthew E. K. Hall, the David A. Potenziani Memorial College professor of constitutional studies and director of the Rooney Democracy Institute at the University of Notre Dame, explained the motivation behind the research. He noted the unusual nature of this sudden change in political messaging.

“After the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Donald Trump and various members of his administration drastically changed their rhetoric about freedom of speech,” Hall said. “Trump had portrayed himself as a free speech champion for years. But suddenly, Trump and his allies repeatedly asserted that various forms of expression were not protected by the First Amendment.”

This shift presented a unique opportunity for scientists to test competing theories about public opinion. One theory suggests that everyday citizens have a deep, unmovable commitment to core democratic values. The opposing theory proposes that people tend to blindly follow the cues of political elites, who are highly influential figures such as presidents and lawmakers. [Continue reading…]