Rédaction Donald Trump’s return to the White House marks a worrying turning point for press freedom. Between political pressure, increasing restrictions, and the weakening of the media, American and international journalism finds itself under more pressure than ever.
[published on 29/09/2025 by the redaction]
Since Donald Trump’s inauguration for his second term on January 20, 2025, there have been numerous setbacks in press freedom and civil rights in general. Threats already made during his election campaign have been carried out, using the federal government as a weapon against newspapers and individual journalists who have been critical of him. Associated Press (AP) journalists have notably been barred from White House events since February 11, due to their continued use of the term « Gulf of Mexico » instead of « Gulf of America, » preferred by Trump. Despite a federal judge’s April 9 ruling allowing their return, the administration has continued to exclude them according to AP.
In its new 2025 ranking, Reporters Without Borders ranks the United States 57th in the world for press freedom, dropping two places since last year. In this context, Trump has attacked the credibility, independence, and sustainability of the media both nationally and internationally, drawing inspiration from authoritarian regimes.
A wave of new legal and administrative restrictions targeting American journalism
On the first day of his second term, Donald Trump signed a record number of executive orders, reversing many of the previous administration’s decisions. Of particular note is Executive Order 141419. While it was supposed to “restore free speech and end federal censorship,” it has been criticized by many for facilitating the spread of misinformation online and hindering moderation on social media platforms.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), led by Brendan Carr, co-author of the ultra-conservative « Project 2025 » has launched several politically motivated investigations into media outlets critical of Trump. These include CBS, Disney (as the parent company of ABC), Comcast (parent company of NBC), NPR, and PBS. On May 1, an executive order was signed calling for the cessation of federal investment in PBS and NPR, amid accusations of bias.
As a result of these restrictions, the lack of government funding, and the dominance of billionaires over American media companies, « information deserts » (RSF) are emerging across the country. These areas, where access to reliable and verified information is limited, as well as US-funded media outlets abroad, are also under significant threat.
Free media abroad weakened by cuts in USAGM funding
On March 14, 2025, Trump announced the dissolution of USAGM (the independent agency responsible for monitoring government-funded international broadcasts). In doing so, he defunded many independent media outlets in foreign countries, particularly those working to share information in areas under authoritarian rule.
Each year, $268 million (about 0.004% of the federal budget) is allocated by Congress to support independent media. Following the Trump administration’s decision regarding USAGM and the 90-day freeze on USAID grants, global journalism has been plunged into chaos, according to Reporters Without Borders.
More than 3,500 journalists and media workers risk losing their jobs as a result of this decision, including those working for Voice of America and Radio Free Europe. The Czech government has called for the latter to be safeguarded, calling it a vital bulwark against totalitarian regimes ( Le Monde ). As a result of these measures, at least 84 USAGM employees currently based in the United States are at risk of being deported to countries where they face a high risk of prosecution and sanctions.
Increasing incidents between the Trump administration and journalists
The Trump administration has also imposed numerous restrictions on journalists’ access to the president or his staff. The self-managed system in place for years with the White House Correspondents’ Association has also been modified. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt announced on February 25 that the administration would itself select the « pool » of journalists granted privileged access, opening it up to new media outlets personally selected by the executive ( CNN ).
Donald Trump has also increased his personal attacks on journalists on social media, a consistent pattern since entering politics. ( RSF ). According to the US Freedom Tracker index, between announcing his candidacy in 2015 and his ban from Twitter in January 2021, he published more than 2,500 negative tweets against the media. In addition, during the last two months of his last campaign, he attacked the media at least 108 times in speeches or public statements, according to Reporters Without Borders.
The future of the situation as perceived by journalists on the ground and abroad
Donald Trump’s actions against the media, which intensified during his second term, did not just affect domestic journalists. The changes he imposed on the media landscape were felt worldwide, particularly because of the United States’ dominant position in global politics. Foreign correspondents at the White House describe a new, intimidating and authoritarian atmosphere in the newsroom, including Canadian journalist Frédéric Arnould (Radio Canada) and French journalist Sonia Dridi (RTBF, France 24, BFM TV).
International press organizations have also warned of the deteriorating situation in the United States. Clayton Weimers, executive director of RSF’s North America bureau, refuses to accept this decline in freedom and calls on all Americans to recognize the reality of the situation and continue to denounce it. The French union CFDT-Journalistes also expressed the danger that attacks on press freedom represent for democracy.
A student from Pennsylvania active in the political scene shares this view on the decline of press freedom and civil liberties. She points out that « forcing people to do what you want in exchange for a job is not democracy » and warns against Trump’s circumvention of institutional safeguards. She believes Trump increasingly resembles authoritarian regimes: he makes decisions outside his power and « does what he wants without caring what others think. » Overall, she believes it will take a lot of effort to reverse the changes made by this new administration, because, in her opinion, « the American people are broken, » having voted for him twice.
See the French version : États-Unis. La presse libre à l’épreuve du retour de Trump
