Censorship is a prime way that an authoritarian regime controls its citizens’ thoughts and access to knowledge. The Trump regime has weakened the ability of the media to provide oversight by direct attacks, lies, and lawsuits.

The censorship of authors and books is another tactic of dictators.

The banning of books has long been a tool of authoritarian strongmen for suppression and control of the population. The banning of books and the control of culture has a strong record in the United States. Beginning in the early 1600s, Puritan authorities in Massachusetts banned books that challenged their authority and religious customs. During the Civil War, both pro-slavery southerners and anti-slavery union authorities engaged in the banning of books that challenged their respective beliefs.  Perhaps the most prominent example of the effort to control information, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, was banned and often burned in southern states due to its anti-slavery perspective. 

Today, The American Library Association notes a dramatic rise in this activity with recent data indicating that, since the start of the Trump era, tens of thousands of books have been challenged and banned, an escalating effort consistent with authoritarian eras throughout history.

In 2024, 2,452 unique titles were targeted for censorship with 72 percent of targeted attempts initiated by organized groups.  Pen America reports 10,046 books were banned during the 2023-24 school year involving over 4,000 unique titles. The most common reasons for challenges were false claims of illegal obscenity for minors, inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters and themes, and inclusion of topics on race, equity, and social justice.