Punishing the Press, Critics and Institutions

The Deportable Critic

Trump's State Department Answered a €120 Million Fine on Musk's X by Declaring His Critic Deportable

Select a Section to Explore

Chapter 1 — A Corporate Fine Became a Deportability Determination

Chapter 2 — Diplomatic Support for Starlink

Chapter 3 — The Defense, the Court Result and the Charge

1 · A Corporate Fine Became a Deportability Determination

1 · A Corporate Fine Became a Deportability Determination — select a subtopic

1.1 — Rubio's Response to the Fine on X

1.2 — The Research and Advocacy Used Against Ahmed

1 · A Corporate Fine Became a Deportability Determination

1.1 · A Corporate Fine Became a Deportability Determination

Rubio's Response to the Fine on X

On December 19, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved a range of responses to a €120 million European fine on Elon Musk's X, and one of them declared Imran Ahmed, a Musk critic, deportable. Ahmed is a lawful permanent resident raising a family with his American wife. Trump appointed Rubio, and Rubio invoked Trump's foreign policy when he announced the restrictions.

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Sources

[1]European Commission, Commission fines X €120 million under the Digital Services Act, December 5, 2025

[2]Ahmed v. Rubio, No. 1:25-cv-10705-LAP (S.D.N.Y.), ECF 1, Complaint, filed December 24, 2025

[3]Ahmed v. Rubio, No. 1:25-cv-10705 (S.D.N.Y.), ECF 49, Memorandum of Law in support of the government's motion to dismiss and in opposition to the preliminary injunction, filed March 13, 2026

[4]Ahmed v. Rubio, No. 1:25-cv-10705 (S.D.N.Y.), ECF 42, "Certification of Administrative Record" of Ryan P. O'Donnell, Office of the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, executed February 6, 2026 under penalty of perjury, with the Department's Administrative Record annexed (Bates DOS_001–DOS_010)

[5]Congressional Record, Senate, January 20, 2025, nomination and confirmation of Marco Rubio as Secretary of State

[6]U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesperson, Press Statement of Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, "Announcement of Actions to Combat the Global Censorship-Industrial Complex," December 23, 2025

[7]"The President's News Conference With White House Senior Adviser Elon R. Musk," May 30, 2025, Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents, DCPD-202500648

1.2 · A Corporate Fine Became a Deportability Determination

The Research and Advocacy Used Against Ahmed

The State Department's recommendation to Rubio cited CCDH's campaigns against online content and its support for European and British regulation. It also cited leaked documents describing an effort to undermine Musk's Twitter. Rubio's determination exposed Ahmed to possible removal proceedings and detention.

Recommendation to the Secretary, Ahmed v. Rubio, ECF 42, Bates DOS_006

More recently, leaked documents from CCDH show the organization listed “kill Musk’s Twitter” and “trigger EU and UK regulatory action” as priorities.

U.S. Department of State · certified February 6, 2026

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Sources

[2]Ahmed v. Rubio, No. 1:25-cv-10705-LAP (S.D.N.Y.), ECF 1, Complaint, filed December 24, 2025

[8]Ahmed v. Rubio, No. 25-CV-10705 (LAP), opinion and order of Judge Loretta A. Preska, September 8, 2026, reproduced by FindLaw

[9]Ahmed v. Rubio, No. 1:25-cv-10705 (S.D.N.Y.), ECF 55, Declaration of Imran Ahmed, filed April 10, 2026

2 · Diplomatic Support for Starlink

2 · Diplomatic Support for Starlink — select a subtopic

2.1 — Agreements, Licenses and Pressure

2.2 — What Began Before Trump Returned

2 · Diplomatic Support for Starlink

2.1 · Diplomatic Support for Starlink

Agreements, Licenses and Pressure

The U.S. embassy helped bring together the parties to a Starlink agreement in the Central African Republic. Another U.S. mission welcomed a Starlink license in Papua New Guinea. In Gambia, a minister's deputy told ProPublica he understood the ambassador's message as a threat to aid funding if Starlink did not get a license.

U.S. Embassy Welcomes Agreement to Bring Starlink to the Central African Republic

Chargé d’Affaires Zimmerman emphasized the U.S. Embassy’s diplomatic facilitating role, connecting the relevant parties and supporting constructive dialogue.

U.S. Embassy in the Central African Republic · December 19, 2025

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Sources

[3]Ahmed v. Rubio, No. 1:25-cv-10705 (S.D.N.Y.), ECF 49, Memorandum of Law in support of the government's motion to dismiss and in opposition to the preliminary injunction, filed March 13, 2026

[10]U.S. Embassy in the Central African Republic, "U.S. Embassy Welcomes Agreement to Bring Starlink to the Central African Republic" (December 2025)

[11]U.S. Mission Papua New Guinea, "United States Welcomes Starlink Licensure and Operation in Papua New Guinea"

[12]Joshua Kaplan, Brett Murphy, Justin Elliott and Alex Mierjeski, The Trump Administration Leaned on African Countries. The Goal: Get Business for Elon Musk., ProPublica, May 15, 2025

[13]Letter of May 14, 2025 from Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Jeanne Shaheen, Richard Blumenthal, Martin Heinrich, Mark R. Warner, Jack Reed, Jeffrey A. Merkley and Edward J. Markey to Attorney General Pamela Bondi, Acting OGE Director Jamieson Greer, White House Designated Agency Ethics Official Scott Gast, and Acting State Department Inspector General Arne B. Baker

2.2 · Diplomatic Support for Starlink

What Began Before Trump Returned

Starlink's application in Lesotho and talks with Gambia began in 2024, and ProPublica reported that U.S. advocacy in Gambia began under Biden. The outlet also reported later U.S. help with Lesotho's license and a competitor's complaint about preferential treatment. It reported that the State Department's campaign appeared to become more aggressive under Trump.

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Sources

[12]Joshua Kaplan, Brett Murphy, Justin Elliott and Alex Mierjeski, The Trump Administration Leaned on African Countries. The Goal: Get Business for Elon Musk., ProPublica, May 15, 2025

[14]Lesotho Communications Authority, "PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT – LICENSING OF THE FIRST SATELLITE INTERNET SERVICE IN LESOTHO," dated 14 April 2025 (captured from an immutable Wayback snapshot of April 14, 2026; the live page now returns HTTP 404)

[15]Republic of The Gambia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, "The Gambia explores the possible launching of Starlink services"

3 · The Defense, the Court Result and the Charge

3 · The Defense, the Court Result and the Charge — select a subtopic

3.1 — Commercial Advocacy and Freedom of Expression

3.2 — The September Appeal and Temporary Protection

3 · The Defense, the Court Result and the Charge

3.1 · The Defense, the Court Result and the Charge

Commercial Advocacy and Freedom of Expression

Diplomats are instructed to help American businesses, and State's ethics rules expressly allow official commercial advocacy. The government defended its determination against Ahmed as protection of American speech and sovereignty. Judge Loretta Preska dismissed his suit for lack of jurisdiction without deciding his constitutional claims.

Read the full chapter — all the detail, fully footnoted →

Sources

[3]Ahmed v. Rubio, No. 1:25-cv-10705 (S.D.N.Y.), ECF 49, Memorandum of Law in support of the government's motion to dismiss and in opposition to the preliminary injunction, filed March 13, 2026

[8]Ahmed v. Rubio, No. 25-CV-10705 (LAP), opinion and order of Judge Loretta A. Preska, September 8, 2026, reproduced by FindLaw

[10]U.S. Embassy in the Central African Republic, "U.S. Embassy Welcomes Agreement to Bring Starlink to the Central African Republic" (December 2025)

[11]U.S. Mission Papua New Guinea, "United States Welcomes Starlink Licensure and Operation in Papua New Guinea"

[12]Joshua Kaplan, Brett Murphy, Justin Elliott and Alex Mierjeski, The Trump Administration Leaned on African Countries. The Goal: Get Business for Elon Musk., ProPublica, May 15, 2025

[16]2 FAM 910, Economic Affairs — 2 FAM 911.1-1 "Policy" (CT:GEN-356; 04-07-2009) and 2 FAM 911.1-2 "Responsibilities" (CT:GEN-396; 07-24-2012), Foreign Affairs Manual, U.S. Department of State

[17]1 FAM 427, Office of Commercial and Business Affairs (EB/CBA) (CT:ORG-573; 03-17-2021), Foreign Affairs Manual, U.S. Department of State

[18]11 FAM 617, "Misuse of Position" — 11 FAM 617.1, "Use of Public Office for Private Gain" (CT:POL-84; 06-03-2024), Foreign Affairs Manual, U.S. Department of State

3.2 · The Defense, the Court Result and the Charge

The September Appeal and Temporary Protection

Ahmed appealed the dismissal, and a September 10 order continued temporary protection while the appeals court considered his stay request. These documents do not establish any gain for Americans' freedom of expression from the action against Ahmed. The charge is abuse of public power: using a response to a corporate fine to threaten a critic's life with his family.

Read the full chapter — all the detail, fully footnoted →

Sources

[2]Ahmed v. Rubio, No. 1:25-cv-10705-LAP (S.D.N.Y.), ECF 1, Complaint, filed December 24, 2025

[3]Ahmed v. Rubio, No. 1:25-cv-10705 (S.D.N.Y.), ECF 49, Memorandum of Law in support of the government's motion to dismiss and in opposition to the preliminary injunction, filed March 13, 2026

[8]Ahmed v. Rubio, No. 25-CV-10705 (LAP), opinion and order of Judge Loretta A. Preska, September 8, 2026, reproduced by FindLaw

[10]U.S. Embassy in the Central African Republic, "U.S. Embassy Welcomes Agreement to Bring Starlink to the Central African Republic" (December 2025)

[19]Just Security, Litigation Tracker: Legal Challenges to Trump Administration Actions, Ahmed v. Rubio entry, consulted for the October 10, 2026 cutoff

[20]Ahmed v. Rubio, No. 25-CV-10705 (LAP), ECF 71, order of Judge Loretta A. Preska, September 10, 2026

[21]"Remarks at a Tesla Viewing and an Exchange With Reporters," March 11, 2025, Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents, DCPD-202500346 (the President spoke at 2:50 p.m. on the South Lawn at the White House)