The Trump administration's infringements on freedom of speech remind me of the good old days when prominent Republicans in the U.S. would come out as defenders of academic freedom and freedom of speech, also in other countries.
This was something I experienced first hand, as a faculty member of Bir Zeit University in the occupied Palestinian Territories in the early 80's (working in the English library and teaching Library Skills). At that time, the Israeli occupation authority issued Military Order 854, which placed Palestinian institutions of higher education under the command of the Israeli governor, giving him control over enrollment and staff appointments. This violation of international law was resisted by all Palestinian universities. Meanwhile, 200 Israeli academics signed a statement in support of the universities.
To assert control, the military governor demanded that nonresident faculty had to sign a statement in which they agreed to abide by Israeli military orders and disown the PLO, which it referred to as a terrorist organization. We, foreign faculty members, never signed, but for some time many of us had our bags more or less packed, knowing that we could face deportation.
The so called “loyalty oath” was ditched after protest from a high-ranking source: the U.S. State Department. Secretary of State George Shultz called it “an abridgement of academic freedom” and described it as “totally unnecessary” for Israel’s security. He went so far as to call upon “people in the intellectual community” to protest what he characterized as “an abridgment of freedom of thought.” In light of how the Trump administration is targeting the academic freedom in U.S. universities, I think that Secretary Shultz would turn in his grave, if he knew.