Trump Media Group Sues Brazilian Judge Weighing Arrest of Jair Bolsonaro
New York TimesFEB 17
Trump Media and Rumble Sue Brazilian Judge Over Alleged Censorship
Above: On Sept. 26, 2024, in Brazil, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes receives all the requested documents from Platform X (formerly Twitter) confirming its legal representative in the country and analyzes Elon Musk's request to unblock the platform. Image copyright: Ton Molina/Contributor/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Facts
Trump Media & Technology Group and video platform Rumble filed a lawsuit in Tampa, Florida's US District Court against Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, alleging illegal censorship of "legitimate political discourse in the [US]."
The lawsuit claims that Moraes violated First Amendment protections by ordering the suspension of US-based accounts, particularly targeting critics of Brazilian Pres. Lula da Silva and supporters of former Pres. Jair Bolsonaro.
Rumble previously disabled access for users in Brazil in 2023 due to court orders demanding the removal of certain creators, though it later resumed operations in the country after the censorship order was rescinded. Rumble had faced a $9K daily fine for not acquiescing to Moraes' order.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
This lawsuit is a vital stand against Moraes' draconian censorship agenda. Moraes, a true Bond villain, has orchestrated a sprawling regime that silences dissent — from banning X in Brazil to targeting sovereign US-based platforms over what he deems "disinformation," but is really just information he doesn't like. His extraterritorial overreach threatens free speech globally, making this legal battle essential to curbing his authoritarian grip.
Pro-establishment narrative
While outright bans on apps go too far, US companies and officials don’t have the right to sue a foreign judge like Alexandre de Moraes. He’s within his sovereign authority to curb disinformation that threatens Brazil’s democracy, such as Meta’s recent failed shift toward self-regulation. Brazil’s populace is also split on the issue of content moderation — 34.9% in favor to 29.3% opposed — proving it’s their call, not America's, to balance speech and stability.