1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

congress I am writing to express my alarm at President [Last Name]’s continued attacks on free speech and the free press. His threats against journalists, efforts to silence critics, attacks on MSNBC and CNN, and attempts to dismantle public broadcasting—such as the Voice of America (VOA) and other outlets—are direct assaults on the First Amendment. No President has the power to dictate what the press can and cannot report, nor should any American fear retaliation for exercising their right to speak out.  He should be supporting journalist standards of fairness and accuracy if anything but never try to silence the press or a citizen. Freedom of speech and a free press are foundational to our democracy. The President’s pattern of intimidating journalists and private citizens who oppose him is a violation of these core principles. This is not leadership—it is authoritarianism. Silencing dissent and targeting the press is what we expect from dictatorships, not the United States of America. As an elected official, you swore an oath to defend the Constitution. That means standing up against any effort to erode our freedoms, regardless of political affiliation. I urge you to take immediate action by publicly condemning the President’s attacks on the press and free speech and demanding that he rescind these threats. If he refuses, Congress must hold him accountable—including through impeachment if necessary. I also ask that you issue a public statement reaffirming your commitment to protecting freedom of speech and a free press. The American people deserve to know where you stand. Silence is complicity. The time to act is now. I look forward to your response and your public commitment to defending the fundamental rights that define this nation.