White House adds Jane Fonda to expanding list of celebrity targets with scathing message

Jane Fonda has revived an activist group from the Cold War era that was backed by her father and fellow Oscar winner Henry Fonda.

Free speech has been a huge topic of debate in America of late in the wake of ABC briefly suspending Jimmy Kimmel for remarks he made on his show about Donald Trump and the late Charlie Kirk.

Dozens of celebrities condemned the network's decision and the likes of Stephen Colbert expressed concerns about censorship.

While Kimmel has since been reinstated, the fears about Americans' free speech remains a hot topic.

With this in mind, Grace and Frankie actress Fonda has launched a 21st century incarnation of the Committee for the First Amendment.

It was originally formed in 1947 in response to Congressional hearings aimed against screenwriters and directors and their alleged Communist ties.

Jane Fonda has relaunched the Committee for the First Amendment (JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP via Getty Images)

"The federal government is once again engaged in a coordinated campaign to silence critics in the government, the media, the judiciary, academia, and the entertainment industry," the committee’s mission statement reads in part, as per PA.

"We refuse to stand by and let that happen. Free speech and free expression are the inalienable rights of every American of all backgrounds and political beliefs – no matter how liberal or conservative you may be.

"The ability to criticize, question, protest, and even mock those in power is foundational to what America has always aspired to be."

Signers of the new organisation’s mission statement include Florence Pugh, Sean Penn, Billie Eilish, Pedro Pascal and hundreds of others.

Elsewhere Fonda, 87, said we're living 'in a very chilling time'.

Fonda's movement has been backed by hundreds of celebs (David Ryder/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

"This is a very chilling time. You know, we’ve faced attempts at autocracy before in the ’20s and ’30s, and you’ve cited the example of McCarthyism," she said on CNN.

Fonda went on: "There was Jim Crow. This is different, and we should all be very scared, and the key is solidarity."

The White House has since responded to the committee's revival and Fonda's comments.

"Hanoi Jane is free to share whatever bad opinions she wants," a White House spokesperson said per MSNBC.

"As someone who actually knows what it’s like to be censored, President Trump is a strong supporter of free speech and Democrat allegations to the contrary are so false, they’re laughable."

Fonda joins the likes of Beyoncé and Oprah Winfrey in being in Trump's bad books. The president alleges the celebrities were payed by the Democrats to endorse Kamala Harris during her 2024 campaign — something the political party has denied.