“Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me”: Cancel Culture in Trump’s US.

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she/ With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,/ Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,/ The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.” – Emma Lazarus, 1883.

On 14 June Scotland’s football team take on Haiti in the World Cup in Boston, U.S. Many Scots, however, have fallen at the departure gates for The Land of the Free with entry denied, often at the last moment as the US imposes its border controls.

But that’s just a small part of the story. The US also denied entry to Africa’s top referee, Omar Artan from Somalia. Since then it has been reported that “David Eby, Premier of British Columbia, Canada, has announced that his province would welcome Omar Artan. He stated that Artan should be allowed to referee World Cup matches within his jurisdiction, specifically in the host city of Vancouver.” This is possible because there are 3 countries hosting the 2026 World Cup.: Canada, U.S., Mexico. As hosts, the U.S is proving to be less than welcoming with ticket prices and accommodation at exorbitant prices.

But that’s an even smaller part of the story. For in the US today a culture of fear and weakness from the very top at any form of criticism to the current regime is bullying journalists, comedians, and politicians who might air contrasting views.

US citizens are very proud, and rightly so, of their First Amendment rights as guaranteed in their written Constitution:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Those rights are being trampled all over by the clown-sized shoes President Trump has gifted to his cabinet lackeys. This, however, is no laughing matter. One comedian, Stephen Colbert of The Late Show on CBS, has been cancelled. He dared to exercise his First Amendment rights and make jokes about the current regime.

Another comedian, Jimmy Kimmel, who hosts a late night show on ABC, had his show suspended, until a huge backlash by ordinary viewers saying they would cancel their subscription to Disney (who are ABC), had him reinstated. He also had dared to make humorous remarks about Trump – and to persistently post the caption “Trump-Epstein Files”. A reminder to the viewers that those Files of the sex offender who ran a human trafficking ring for the richest paedophiles in the world have still not been fully released. Delayed only by the President who still maintains he has been cleared of any wrong doing and has nothing to fear from their release.

There are multiple cancel culture issues being played out in Trump’s US. One of the most recent is the cancelling of the annual ceremony to mark the contribution of women who served in the US military. Historically the wreath laying ceremony took place at Arlington Cemetery to honour those women who gave their lives in the service of their country. Instead the Democratic Women’s Caucus held a Press Conference to honour the women.  DWC Vice Chair Emila Sykes said:

“For nearly 30 years, this bipartisan wreath-laying ceremony has honoured the service and sacrifice of America’s women veterans. This year, military branches told us they could not participate because of President Trump’s executive order and guidance issued by Secretary Hegseth’s Department of Defense.

“The result was the cancellation of a ceremony dedicated to recognizing women who answered the call to serve. At a time when women veterans should be celebrated, the Trump-Hegseth Pentagon is sidelining them. We will continue to honor their service and speak out against efforts to diminish their contributions to our nation,”

Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander added:

“Our military is stronger because of the women who have worn the uniform and who have sworn an oath to this great Constitution – I saw it first-hand when I served in the Navy.

“Their service is central to the story of our country and to the story of our military. No executive order, no president, could ever erase it.”

But that is only part of the story. The cancel culture goes deeper and dirtier attempting to re-write not just the history of US women veterans, but anything which does not fit into a white supremacist agenda. Black history, including references to slavery, – taken out of the picture. Similarly native North American heritage and culture is being side-lined and whitewashed.

And while the world looks on and panders to the current US regime which has launched a War of Choice with Israel on Iran, thousands have been slaughtered in Lebanon, Iran, and surrounding countries, with millions of people displaced and forced to flee their homes. Trump has instigated a war when he pledged ‘No More Wars’. The economic consequences for the world are immense.

A fitting tribute to this current regime is the bastardisation of the Whitehouse lawn with a tacky arena and large advertising billboards festooned across its frontage purporting to ‘celebrate’ 250 years of US independence.

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles.

Fiona Grahame