Actress Shocked After Trump ‘Bans’ Her Children’s Book

Academy Award-winning actress and author Julianne Moore expressed outrage after learning that her children’s book, Freckleface Strawberry, has been banned from schools operated by the Department of Defense under the Trump administration’s latest restrictions on educational materials.

The ban, which also includes Kathleen Krull’s No Truth Without Ruth—a children’s book about the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg—and Ellis Nutt’s Becoming Nicole, was reportedly part of a compliance review targeting books “potentially related to gender ideology or discriminatory equity ideology topics,” according to an internal memo obtained by The Guardian.

In a strongly worded Instagram post, Moore called the decision “shocking and deeply disappointing.” She wrote, “It is a great shock for me to learn that my first book, Freckleface Strawberry, has been banned by the Trump administration from schools run by the Department of Defense.”

Published in 2007, Freckleface Strawberry is a semi-autobiographical story about a young girl learning to embrace her freckles, ultimately realizing that being different is something to celebrate. Moore emphasized that the book was written to encourage self-acceptance among children. “I wrote it for my own kids and for others as a reminder that we all struggle with identity at some point, but our differences unite us in our shared humanity,” she added.

The Pentagon’s decision to remove the book from school libraries and restrict access to professional staff has raised concerns about censorship and the politicization of education. While the administration framed the move as part of a routine review, critics see it as another instance of book bans targeting themes of diversity and inclusion.

“I can’t help but wonder what is so controversial about a story encouraging kids to embrace their unique qualities,” Moore continued. “I never imagined living in a country where the government would determine which stories children are allowed to read.”

The backlash has been swift, with public figures and fellow celebrities expressing their frustration. Actress Michelle Pfeiffer commented on Moore’s post, asking where she could buy a copy in solidarity, while Bella Thorne simply wrote, “Wow, this is crazy.”

This latest crackdown follows a broader trend of book bans in conservative-led education initiatives. Since returning to office, Trump has doubled down on efforts to remove books discussing race, gender, and historical inequities from public school curricula. His administration has frequently framed such removals as an effort to combat “woke indoctrination,” a term critics argue is used to justify erasing diverse perspectives from education.

As the 2026 election cycle approaches, the debate over censorship and education is expected to intensify. For now, Moore remains firm in her stance. “Stories shape our world,” she wrote. “And no administration should have the power to decide which ones are allowed to be told.”