Trump Media and Rumble Secure Landmark Ruling Upholding Free Speech Rights Against Brazilian Censorship Efforts

Trump Media and Rumble Secure Landmark Ruling Upholding Free Speech Rights Against Brazilian Censorship Efforts

The Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) and Rumble are celebrating a significant victory in their quest to protect free speech after a Florida judge ruled that they are not obligated to adhere to a Brazilian Supreme Court justice’s attempts to censor their political communications.

TMTG, which serves as the parent company of Truth Social, and Rumble, a platform committed to digital expression, sought a temporary restraining order against Justice Alexandre de Moraes. They argued that Moraes’s actions to interfere with their operations constituted an illegal attempt to silence American entities operating primarily within the United States.

The Legal Battle Over Censorship

In their legal proceedings, TMTG and Rumble labeled Moraes’s actions as a blatant overreach, claiming he issued a gag order that exceeded his authority under Brazilian law. They emphasized that his directives affect American companies, thus raising questions about jurisdiction and validity.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven issued a ruling stating that TMTG and Rumble do not need to pursue the temporary restraining order, as compliance with Moraes’s directives is unnecessary.

Scriven stated that the directives purportedly from Moraes were not properly served to TMTG and Rumble according to established international agreements, including the Hague Convention and the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between the United States and Brazil. This procedural misstep significantly undermined Moraes’s authority in this matter.

Judicial Findings That Resonate

Judge Scriven’s ruling highlighted that there was no evidence showing action taken by either Moraes or the Brazilian government to validate or enforce their directives within the United States. As a result, she asserted, TMTG and Rumble do not have any legal obligation to comply with these orders.

The judge emphasized,