In Rare Public Address, Justice Thomas Calls On Americans To Stand Up Against ‘Progressivism’

Using the positive-sounding euphemism “progressive” to describe their Marxist views doesn’t protect the modern left from scrutiny, as Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recently proved in his pointed remarks on the subject.

According to Fox News, he laid out the case against so-called progressivism during an event celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary:

“I think if we don’t stand up and take ownership of our country, and take responsibility for it, we are slowly letting others control how we think and what we think,” he told the audience.

“Progressivism seeks to replace the basic premises of the Declaration of Independence, and hence our form of government,” Thomas said Wednesday evening, drawing a direct line between contemporary political movements and what he described as a departure from the Constitution’s original meaning.

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“It holds that our rights and our dignities come not from God, but from the government,” Thomas said. “It requires of the people a subservience and weakness incompatible with a Constitution premised on the transcendent origin of our rights.”

The conservative justice also lamented what he said was the growing prevalence of “cynicism, rejection, hostility and animus” in the U.S., and perpetuated “by Americans,” and particularly, so-called “pragmatists” or self-described intellectuals.

The remarks from Thomas, who is known for shying away from public remarks, drew a significant amount of attention on social media:

The greatest Supreme Court Justice of all time if you ask me…

— Jason Franzen (@jasonforwright) April 16, 2026

Backup here if needed:

Common sense not rocket science. Outstanding as always Justice Thomas. Get off the sidelines & get in the arena!

— Trader Joe (@1trdrjoe) April 16, 2026

It truly is a simple concept, America first!

Let’s use the mask on a plane rule as you always put the mask on yourself first, before you can take care of others.

America’s identity should be about Americans, and not dictated by what the rest of the world thinks or believes.

— Geronimos Dimitrelos (@Geronimos15) April 16, 2026

Thomas also emphasized the importance of finding common ground, though, as The Hill reported in its coverage of his remarks at the University of Texas at Austin on Wednesday:

He remembered the late Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who revived a tradition of the justices eating lunch together and after retiring from the bench spent her time advocating for civics education. She “gets way too little credit for what she did,” Thomas said.

“These were people who respected — they were more in that tradition of a civil society and would listen to different points of view,” the conservative justice added. “I think this generation of kids — they’re in a different world.”

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Thomas’s answer came after an hourlong lecture at the school to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. He commended the university for its new School of Civic Leadership and embrace of Western civilization curriculum, suggesting it should serve as an example for other universities to reform.

“I think that that young person should ask yourself, while you’re in college, how do you all deal with differences?” he told the student questioner.

Here’s a longer clip of his remarks:

Clarence Thomas' remarks on progressivism, its foundations, history, and impact — from his appearance at UT Austin today, 4/15/26.

Entire unedited appearance attached below. https://t.co/xhiR4aBnM9 pic.twitter.com/WG6aT8uTVP

— Mark Valorian (@markvalorian) April 16, 2026

What’s your opinion?