Tag

#press-freedom

Violations of freedom of the press, including restrictions on media access, retaliation against journalists, suppression of reporting, and government interference with editorial independence.

4 incidents

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

Second-Term Press Attacks: AP Barred From Press Pool, Pool Access Restricted

The AP's exclusion from press pool events — a credentialed, nonpartisan wire service — was triggered by the AP's editorial decision to continue using 'Gulf of Mexico' rather than 'Gulf of America,' the name Trump had issued an executive order to adopt. AP's position was that it followed geographic naming standards and could not adopt a contested renaming while it was politically motivated. Press freedom organizations condemned the exclusion as retaliation against a news organization for its editorial decisions.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Khashoggi Assassination Cover-Up: Trump's Protection of Saudi Arabia from Accountability

Khashoggi was killed and dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul by a 15-person hit squad sent from Riyadh. The CIA concluded with high confidence that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally ordered the killing. Trump publicly sided with Saudi Arabia over his own intelligence agencies, blocked sanctions on MBS, and used the murder as leverage in arms sales negotiations.

Grade 1 of 5: Significant Democratic Concern

First-Term Attacks on Press Freedom: 'Enemy of the People' and Institutional Delegitimization

Trump used the phrase 'enemy of the people' to describe mainstream media more than 30 times, echoing language used by Stalin, Mao, and other authoritarian leaders. His administration attempted to ban reporters from press briefings, challenged broadcast licenses in apparent retaliation for critical coverage, encouraged legal changes to make it easier to sue journalists, and called for investigations of reporters. International press freedom organizations documented the global impact: Trump's rhetoric gave cover to authoritarian leaders from Turkey to the Philippines to justify imprisoning journalists.

Grade 1 of 5: Significant Democratic Concern

Press Freedom: 'Enemy of the People' and Systematic Media Attacks

Trump's attacks on the press were systematic and escalating: he labeled specific organizations (CNN, NBC, the New York Times, Washington Post) 'fake news,' called reporters 'enemies of the people,' suggested revoking NBC's broadcast license, threatened to revoke press credentials, and cheered when supporters physically confronted journalists at rallies. At an October 2018 rally he praised Rep. Greg Gianforte, who had pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault for body-slamming a reporter. Reporters covering Trump rallies documented being surrounded by hostile crowds. Authoritarian governments around the world cited Trump's 'fake news' rhetoric when expelling journalists or restricting press access.