A video clip of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas speaking during a lecture at the University of Texas has circulated widely on X. The footage, featured on Fox News, shows Thomas arguing that progressivism seeks to replace God-given rights with government-granted privileges. According to the post sharing the clip, the comments constitute a call for Congress to address the issue, prompting a range of reactions from online users, with some praising Thomas and others voicing concerns about institutions.
The video shows Justice Clarence Thomas speaking from a podium in front of university and state flags. In the clip, he states, “Progressivism seeks to replace the basic premises of the Declaration of Independence, and hence our form of government. It holds that our rights and dignities come not from God but from government. It requires a subservience and weakness incompatible with a constitution premised on the transcendent origin of our rights.”
The full lecture addressed the continued relevance of the founding principles and the historical challenges they face. The shared clip focuses on Thomas’s critique of progressivism; it does not show the complete address or audience questions that followed. According to the post accompanying the video, the remarks highlight a shift away from God-given rights toward government-granted privileges.
Public Feedback on Justice Thomas’s Remarks at University of Texas
Some users expressed strong agreement with Thomas, with one writing, “I love him & his wisdom! He’s 100% correct! Radical progressivism won today in the highest court in the land! This must be stopped!”
Others described progressivism in critical terms, noting that it “is ironically named since it takes every nation backwards that has tried to implement it” and that it “is just a gentle word Democrats started using in place of saying Socialism.”
Additional comments focused on institutional concerns and possible responses. One stated, “Congress is compromised. It violated its oath to protect us from enemies, both foreign & domestic. It is an enabler & part of the problem.”
Another asked, “Since the Constitution was written for American Citizens. Can we not appeal as they work for the Constitution and what was written for American Citizens?”
A further reply called for broader accountability, saying, “SCOTUS just created treason against the United States of America… D.C. & the courts are too corrupt! It’s time to incarcerate the traitors.”
The clip continues to circulate on X as part of wider online discussions about the principles underlying the Declaration of Independence. It adds one more moment to longstanding debates over the role of government and the origins of rights.
