Clarence Thomas Says Progressivism Conflicts With America’s Founding Principles
Thomas said progressivism replaces natural rights with government power and cited historical abuses as evidence, calling the ideology retrogressive.
- On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas spoke at the University of Texas-Austin Law School, arguing that progressive political ideas are fundamentally incompatible with the Declaration of Independence.
- Addressing the 250th anniversary of the Declaration, Thomas claimed progressivism suggests rights originate from government rather than from God, contradicting the Founders' original vision.
- Criticizing early 20th-century progressivism, Thomas linked ideas associated with President Woodrow Wilson to conditions that enabled authoritarian regimes in Europe.
- Critics, including Matt Ford, rejected the comparison as "wildly inaccurate", arguing that Nazi Germany resulted from complex factors rather than American progressive reforms.
- Amid heightened scrutiny of the Supreme Court, the controversy illustrates risks of high-profile officials deploying historically charged comparisons in contemporary political debates.
63 Articles
63 Articles
'Most important speech...that should never have been given’: Fmr Judge pans SCOTUS justice's remarks
At a recent event, the conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas delivered a grievance-soaked address that argued that progressivism is incompatible with the Declaration of Independence. Former federal judge J. Michael Luttig, a lifelong conservative himself, took issue with the address. “I believe that this speech could prove to be the single most important speech of political and constitutional philosophy that should never have been g…
Supreme Court judge blasted for controversial speech: 'Suffering from Fox News brainrot'
Supreme Court Judge Clarence Thomas has been heavily criticized for a speech made against progressive politics. Thomas delivered a scathing critique of progressivism during a speech at the University of Texas Austin Law School, characterizing the political philosophy as fundamentally incompatible with American constitutional principles. Thomas argued that progressivism seeks to replace the foundational premises of the Declaration of Independence…
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