<p>In today’s polarized political climate, discussing politics can feel tricky or even risky. Many Americans report feeling uncomfortable and cautious about expressing their political views publicly and often choose to remain silent. What drives political self-censorship? This study examines how individuals’ perceptions of the national political climate (specifically, perceived polarization) influence their willingness to speak. We argue that perceiving greater polarization and division in society heightens the perceived social costs of political expression, particularly in contexts where individuals are uncertain about how their views will be received, such as in interactions with those outside their close social circles. Using nationally representative panel data and an online survey experiment, we find that individuals who perceive greater polarization are more likely to self-censor. These effects occur primarily in public settings and interactions involving weak ties, acquaintances, and strangers, precisely the contexts where exposure to diverse perspectives is most likely. Our findings demonstrate that perceptions of the broader political environment can shape patterns of individual political expression, with implications for the availability of diverse viewpoints in the public sphere.</p>