Issued on: 02/03/2026 - 13:09Modified: 02/03/2026 - 13:11

Since Donald Trump's return to the White House, the US has seen a significant increase in book censorship. According to PEN America, more than 6,800 book bans have been recorded, with works by Stephen King now topping the list. He holds the unwanted title of the most banned author in the United States. In Texas, public school libraries have become the front line of an unprecedented political battle over free speech. FRANCE 24's Pierrick Leurent and Valérie Defert report.

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For the past four years, Texas has been at the forefront of a conservative movement seeking to ban or restrict access to hundreds of books deemed "inappropriate", often because they address racism, the history of minorities or gender identity. Entire bookshelves have been cleared out in school libraries, while some independent bookstores fear for their survival, worried about potential lawsuits.

Behind this standoff lies a fundamental question: how far can a state go in controlling what its citizens read?

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