“But when you turn disinformation into a weapon, a political weapon, a label that you can use to go after people you don’t like, and say, oh, anything that person’s saying is disinformation—well, listen, I read mainstream newspapers every day, or I watch mainstream broadcasts—mainstream broadcasts every day that I know are disinformation, okay?”
A federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s policy of denying visas and deporting foreign researchers it labeled disinformation experts, ruling it likely violates the First Amendment. Secretary of State Marco Rubio imposed the bans on European activists, calling them part of a global censorship effort. In a May 2025 conversation, Rubio contended that the term “disinformation” is frequently wielded as a political tool to silence opponents, adding that he views mainstream news outlets as sources of disinformation themselves. The lawsuit, filed by the Coalition for Independent Technology Research, argued the policy chilled research and targeted critics of the administration. The judge’s order temporarily halts enforcement of the visa restrictions.
- zerohedge.com ↗︎15 JUL 2026