The Biden-era order mandated that AI developers whose systems posed risks to national security, public health, or safety conduct and share safety test results with the US government under the Defense Production Act.
Trump replaced the AI directive with an order aimed at “restoring freedom of speech and ending federal censorship,” reflecting his administration’s push to limit government influence over online discourse.
“Over the last four years, the previous administration trampled free speech rights by censoring Americans’ speech on online platforms, often by exerting substantial coercive pressure on third parties, such as social media companies, to moderate, de-platform, or suppress speech that the Federal Government did not approve,” the White House stated.
The statement accused the Biden administration of infringing on constitutionally protected speech under the guise of combating misinformation, calling such actions intolerable in a free society.
Trump’s focus on free speech aligns with his personal experiences with social media restrictions following the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol, which resulted in his de-platforming from several sites. Upon taking office, Trump issued pardons to approximately 1,500 individuals involved in the Capitol riots, signaling his support for his supporters.
Trump’s return coincides with shifts in the social media landscape. Billionaire Elon Musk, a Trump ally, restored the former president’s account on X after acquiring the platform and loosening content moderation policies. Meanwhile, Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently met with Trump, with Meta scaling back its US fact-checking efforts and relaxing restrictions on discussions about divisive topics such as immigration and gender identity.
The changes come as debates about the First Amendment, government oversight, and the role of private platforms in moderating public discourse remain highly polarized.