Lukianoff: Presidential Attempts to Control Institutions 'Not Remotely Allowed' by First Amendment

Greg Lukianoff, President and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), recently issued a stark warning against perceived presidential overreach, asserting that attempts to control independent institutions are fundamentally unconstitutional. In a direct statement, Lukianoff declared, > "Not even remotely allowed by the First Amendment, and not something a president should even be talking about attempting." His remarks highlight growing concerns among free speech advocates regarding executive actions that could undermine core American freedoms.

Lukianoff's criticism stems from a broader pattern of governmental pressures on various sectors, including higher education, legal professions, and media organizations. As a prominent constitutional lawyer, he has consistently argued against actions that seek to dictate speech or operational policies within these entities. His organization, FIRE, actively monitors and challenges policies and practices that infringe upon free expression and academic freedom on college campuses nationwide.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, co-founded by Lukianoff, recently released its 2025 College Free Speech Rankings, which documented a significant number of instances where speech was censored, suppressed, or disrupted on campuses. The report noted that 102 successful deplatforming incidents occurred across surveyed institutions, alongside 148 scholar sanctions and 204 student sanctions since 2020. Such findings underscore the fragile state of free expression in academic environments.

Lukianoff's concerns extend beyond campus issues, encompassing any presidential rhetoric or policy aiming to exert undue control over independent bodies. Past discussions have pointed to potential administrative efforts to influence university admissions and hiring, impose federal funding conditions based on ideological alignment, or leverage legal mechanisms to silence critical media. These actions, he contends, represent a dangerous erosion of the First Amendment's protections.

The First Amendment guarantees crucial freedoms, including speech, press, and assembly, designed to safeguard individuals and institutions from government interference. Lukianoff's statement serves as a reminder that these constitutional limits apply equally to the executive branch, preventing any president from unilaterally dictating the terms of public discourse or institutional autonomy. He emphasizes that such proposals, even if only discussed, pose a direct threat to the nation's foundational principles.