Trump’s First 100 Days Mark Escalating Press Freedom Concerns in the U.S.

In the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s second term, press freedom in the United States has faced significant challenges, according to multiple reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) highlights that the administration’s actions have created a chilling effect, threatening the availability of independent, fact-based news for vast swaths of America’s population. These measures include targeted attacks against journalists and news organizations, regulatory abuse, and access issues for journalists reporting in the U.S.

Additionally, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reports that press freedom in the U.S. has reached a historic low, ranking 57th globally, on par with countries like Gambia and Uruguay. The report attributes this decline to an “authoritarian shift” during Trump’s presidency, citing repeated attacks on the media, efforts to defund critical outlets, and increased media consolidation. The RSF also highlights the collapse of local journalism, worsened by economic pressures and the dominance of tech firms whose advertising revenue drains funding from traditional news sources.

The administration has intensified its efforts to defund U.S. public media, targeting the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), NPR, and PBS. An executive order was issued to cut federal funding to NPR and PBS, citing alleged partisan bias and listing specific content as examples of unacceptable coverage. Trump also attempted to prevent the CPB from operating by removing board members, prompting a lawsuit. Public and institutional resistance has been noted, but smaller or rural stations, dependent on CPB funding, face the most significant threats.

These developments underscore the growing concerns over press freedom in the United States, with experts warning of long-lasting damage to the media landscape. As the administration continues to implement policies that affect journalists and news organizations, the future of independent journalism remains uncertain.