John,

Trump’s new memo could criminalize criticism itself.

In September, Donald Trump issued a presidential directive known as National Security Presidential Memorandum-7 (NCPM-7), ordering the Attorney General and the Secretaries of State, Treasury, and Homeland Security to take new measures to “counter domestic terrorism and political violence.”

At first glance, that sounds reasonable. Every American supports efforts to prevent political violence. But the true intent of the memo is something much broader, and much more dangerous: it authorizes a sweeping expansion of federal power that could brand anyone who criticizes Trump or his administration as a “domestic terrorist.”

The memo uses vague, loaded terms like “anti-American,” “anti-capitalist,” and “anti-Christian.” Under such definitions, peaceful dissent -- a tweet criticizing the president, a protest sign, a sermon, an editorial, even a donation to the “wrong” organization -- could be twisted into evidence of extremism.

This is not hypothetical. Trump has already called Democrats “vermin,” “scum,” and “the enemy within,” and told the Navy and Marines they must “take care of this little gnat on our shoulder called the Democrats.” Now, with NSPM-7, he has given his administration the framework to act on that rhetoric -- to investigate, harass, or arrest anyone who dares to disagree.

For nonprofits, universities, or religious organizations, the consequences of such an investigation could be devastating. A single partisan “terrorist” designation -- even if baseless -- would strip away tax-exempt status, dry up donations, and destroy reputations overnight. No evidence of violence would be required, only the president’s disapproval.

This memo represents a direct threat to the First Amendment -- to free speech, freedom of religion, and the right to peaceful assembly. It’s the kind of tool that authoritarian leaders use to silence their opponents and control what citizens are allowed to say or believe.

Congress must intervene immediately. We need:

• Public hearings in the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees to expose the implementation and intent of NSPM-7.

• Funding restrictions to prevent any use of taxpayer dollars for political surveillance or retaliation.

• Independent legal review by the DOJ, Treasury, and DHS to assess the memo’s constitutionality.

If left unchecked, NSPM-7 could turn ordinary Americans into suspects simply for speaking their minds. Democracy cannot survive if criticism of the government becomes a crime.

Tell Congress to act now: demand oversight, block funding, and investigate the full intent of NSPM-7 before it’s used to silence the American people.

Thank you for standing up for the fundamental freedoms that define our nation.