Mike Pence on Free Speech

Mike Pence has vocally positioned himself as a defender of free speech, focusing heavily on the climate on American college campuses. He has characterized the suppression of expression on campuses as a "noxious wave" of speech codes, safe spaces, and political correctness that actively harms learning and the pursuit of knowledge. He argues that the antidote to "cancel culture" and a "woke America" is freedom, urging young people to engage in robust, civil debate rooted in the nation's founding documents.

His appearances at universities often highlight this concern, drawing attention to the ongoing discourse regarding the boundaries of expression in academic settings. While condemning government censorship, he has also drawn a distinction between the First Amendment's protection and private employment decisions made by media companies regarding offensive commentary. He insists that a healthy democracy demands heavy doses of civility alongside firm defense of one's values, encouraging engagement over silence when facing ideological differences.