From the gold standard of journalism to disinformation fuelled by the President, it's been a long way down for press freedom in America.
US President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office have been some of the most chaotic of any President. During this time, press freedom in Washington has seen a drastic shift—from representing the "gold standard" of journalism to one that is fuelled by disinformation backed by the President.
From the start of Trump's second term in January 2025, the Republican leader renewed his assault on press freedom, starting by barring the Associated Press, Bloomberg and Reuters from attending White House briefings, pool events and conferences.
Shortly after cutting USAID funding, Trump ordered the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversaw the Voice of America, to be "eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law," prompting VOA to shut down.
More recently, on May 1, Trump signed an executive order to cut federal funding for public broadcasters such as NPR and PBS.
Why has Trump targeted key wire services and federally funded news services? The same reason why FOX News is presented with a silver platter in the White House.
The US President has accused key services such as AP, Reuters, Bloomberg, VOA, NPR and PBS of "biased reporting" and running "anti-Trump agendas."
The barring of these services coincides with allowing Fox News into the White House. Fox's favourable coverage of Trump since 2016 bode well for the media house and ultimately resulted in many of its personalities holding key positions in the Trump administration (Pete Hegeseth, for one)
With the World Press Freedom Index of 2025 released, the United States’ ranking has dropped once again. In 2024, the US stood at 54; by May 2025, this ranking dropped to 57.
As per the 2025 analysis of press freedom, Reporters without Borders has sounded the alarm for the US.
In its 2025 analysis, RSF highlights that local news outlets have also disappeared across the 50 states, creating a "news desert."
With Trump's return, the US is experiencing "its first significant decline in press freedom." Press freedom in the US since 2013 has headed towards a decline. In 2013, the US stood in the "satisfactory" category. However, 2019 onwards, Washington slipped into the "problematic" category, where it remains today.
Trump's sidelining of the the news agencies, was followed by the President calling for cutting federal funds for the US Agency for Global Media, which funded key broadcasters such as Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, and Middle East Broadcasting Networks.
VOA, started as radio service to counter Nazi propaganda during the Second World War, has been a major broadcaster for the globe. Funded by the Congress, VOA serves as an "accurate, objective, and comprehensive" source of news.
With this order, Trump stated that these broadcasters were biased and cut their funds, prompting the companies to shut down and thousands of employees to be placed on administrative leave.
In his most recent executive order, Trump called on Congress to cut around $1.1 billion funds for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting—which funds National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
In addition to this, Trump has used his social media platform Truth Social to target reporters and media workers critical of his administration.
Furthermore, Trump has also ordered six Federal Communications Commission (FCC) inquiries into media companies such as CBS, ABC and Disney, NBC and Comcast, NPR, PBS and California-based television station KCBS.
Trump has also issued lawsuits against ABC, CBS, The Des Moines Register, Gannett, and the Pulitzer Centre for what he alleges is "biased" coverage.
With the US’ ranking declining to the ongoing suppression of dissent and criticism of the government, if the Trump administration continues its attack on journalism, the US is expected to slip further down the index.