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February 01, 2025 – USA –
From the outset of his political career, Donald Trump has waged a relentless war against the free press, undermining public trust and reshaping the media landscape. His campaign is not merely rhetorical but represents a deliberate strategy to discredit, marginalize, and control the flow of information.
In the first 100 days of his presidency, Trump took unprecedented steps to sideline traditional media. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) documented multiple alarming trends: the White House excluded major outlets like CNN and The New York Times from press briefings, threatened to revoke public funding for outlets such as PBS and NPR, and launched investigations into critical news organizations. These moves contributed to a significant drop in the U.S. press freedom ranking, signaling a dangerous slide toward authoritarian practices.
Elizabeth Graham’s analysis highlights how Trump’s administration systematically restricted media access within government institutions. The Pentagon replaced respected news organizations with outlets sympathetic to Trump, such as Fox News and The Epoch Times. The administration also implemented a rotation system for media access, allowing for tighter control over which reporters could cover key events, further marginalizing critical voices.
Trump’s attacks extended beyond American borders. As Colleen Murrell explains, his criticism of the BBC’s Verify service exemplifies his global strategy to undermine fact-based journalism. By labeling foreign public broadcasters as untrustworthy, Trump sought to cast doubt on any source that challenged his narrative, regardless of national origin.
Central to Trump’s strategy is the use of “firehosing”—a propaganda technique involving a constant barrage of disinformation and contradictory statements, making it difficult for the public to discern truth from falsehood. This method overwhelms audiences, eroding their confidence in all sources of information.
Ultimately, Trump’s war on the press represents more than personal grievance; it’s a calculated effort to weaken one of democracy’s foundational pillars. By discrediting journalists and manipulating media access, he fosters a polarized society where truth becomes subjective, and power operates without scrutiny.
Reference –
https://rsf.org/en/trump-s-war-press-10-numbers-us-president-s-first-100-days
https://egraham.substack.com/p/trumps-war-with-the-free-press?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
