John Kerry's recent remark on the First Amendment being a "major block" to combatting "disinformation" has come under fire by free speech proponents.
While speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on green energy over the weekend, Kerry proposed "change" to the First Amendment if Democrats secure the White House this November.
"If people only go to one source, and the source they go to is sick, and, you know, has an agenda, and they’re putting out disinformation, our First Amendment stands as a major block to be able to just, you know, hammer it out of existence,” Kerry said. “So what we need is to win the ground, win the right to govern, by hopefully winning enough votes that you’re free to be able to implement change.” JOHN KERRY: “If people only go to one source, and the source they go to is sick, and, you know, has an agenda, and they're putting out disinformation, our First Amendment stands as a major block to be able to just, you know, hammer it out of existence”
pic.twitter.com/CaAz0Z8bzv
— ALX (@alx) September 30, 2024
In response to a clip of Kerry's remarks shared to X, Elon Musk warned that Kerry sought to "violate the constitution." John Kerry is saying he wants to violate the Constitution https://t.co/im1BJNlfNI
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 30, 2024
"It will destroy the Constitution," Musk followed up in another post.
Fellow free speech advocate Dr. Jordan Peterson questioned how Kerry could make such remarks about the First Amendment "without bursting into flames." I don't know how @JohnKerry can say such things
Without bursting into flameshttps://t.co/xAevkh0Ffw
— Dr Jordan B Peterson (@jordanbpeterson) September 29, 2024
"John Kerry says the quiet part out loud," wrote another X user. ‘The 1st Amendment stands as a major roadblock for us right now.’ The 1A and the entire Bill of Rights was designed as a ‘roadblock’ against a tyrannical government. It’s a feature, not a bug.”
Independent presidential candidate and former Democrat Robert F. Kennedy Jr. similarly noted that, by design, the First Amendment was a "roadblock" to combatting disinformation. John Kerry is correct. The 1st Amendment DOES stand as a major roadblock to them right now. https://t.co/1QJX2fbw3B
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) September 30, 2024
“John Kerry explaining how free speech stands in the way of consensus around the WEF’s preferred narrative, describes how governments will need to stamp out voices that dissent," wrote another user.
Author Alex Berenson said Kerry's remarks were "truly extraordinary."
"A man at the very top of the Democratic Party - a former Democratic presidential candidate - no longer even pretends to believe in the First Amendment," Berenson wrote. This is a truly extraordinary two minutes. A man at the very top of the Democratic Party - a former Democratic presidential candidate - no longer even pretends to believe in the First Amendment.
Watch and be afraid. https://t.co/wlMeHdfZqs
— Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) September 30, 2024
"Watch and be afraid," he added.
