WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) is facing criticism after a statement in which she appeared to endorse “censoring the American people,” as Democrats continue to push back against President Donald Trump’s fraud audits of the federal government.
“Look, let me tell you something. I’ll take a bit of umbrage here. I’ll speak on behalf of my colleagues. I think I can say we are all willing to work with anyone who’s serious about doing the work of censoring the American people and advancing progress. But they are not serious,” Pressley said.
Her remarks quickly drew backlash, with critics accusing her of advocating government-led censorship. Pressley has not yet clarified whether her comment was a misstatement or taken out of context.
The controversy comes as Democrats continue to protest Trump’s ongoing fraud audits of federal agencies, which have been linked to Elon Musk and discussions around the cryptocurrency Dogecoin (DOGE). The audits, which Trump and his allies claim are aimed at uncovering financial mismanagement, have been met with skepticism from Democrats, who argue they are politically motivated.