USA: Trump inauguration set to trigger period of unprecedented uncertainty for press freedom

Trump claimed a second electoral victory while making and acting on numerous threats to individual journalists, media outlets, and the news media industry as a whole throughout his presidential campaign. Now, as Trump retakes the White House, Americans are left to wonder what the future holds for journalism. When it comes to threats emanating from the government itself, the answer is not entirely clear. No one can say for certain which threats President Trump will act on, or if the institutions that formally constrict presidential powers and protect American freedoms will hold. 

“The word ‘unprecedented’ has become a cliche when attached to Donald Trump, but we’re living in a brave new world when it comes to the scope and intensity of threats to American press freedom. Attacks from a sitting president will compound the problems American journalism faces, including an economic crisis and the crisis of trust between the public and the media. Journalism and access to reliable information are integral parts of democracy. An attack on one is necessarily an attack on the other.”

Clayton Weimers

Executive Director, RSF USA

An unprecedented scope of threats

RSF notes that the range of threats presented by the incoming Trump administration is without precedent in modern American history. For instance, Trump has:

• Issued at least 15 separate calls to revoke the broadcast licenses of television networks in political retaliation;
• Vowed to investigate media outlets that are critical of him;
• Insulted or threatened journalists hundreds of times on the campaign trail;
• Formed an alliance with anti-journalism tech mogul Elon Musk;
• Threatened Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg with jail time in an apparently successful effort to extract concessions on content moderation; and
• Sued multiple media outlets for coverage he disliked.

As president, Trump could act on these threats and take them to new heights, which has created an atmosphere of nervous uncertainty for journalism in the United States. These threats arrive at a moment when the United States sits at its lowest-ever ranking in the RSF World Press Freedom Index, coming in 55th out of 180 countries and territories. 

Legal and political retaliation could deal massive blows to an industry that is already reeling from years of declining revenue, layoffs, the closure of hundreds of local news outlets, open hostility from the social media sites they depend on for traffic, and growing distrust among the public. Challenges are also likely to arise indirectly, from Trump allies and supporters, in a Trump-fueled anti-media climate.

Committing to press freedom

RSF will continue to defend the values of journalism, no matter the threats. Media outlets and individual journalists must prepare to vigorously protect themselves against unjustifiable government interference. Journalists should also take the opportunity to review standard safety protocols for their physical and digital security. 

And while the United States remains deeply divided on many core political and social issues, press freedom can still be a value that unites citizens. Journalism’s purpose is to inform and ensure accountability, a service that benefits all citizens regardless of politics. A large bipartisan majority of Americans agree that the news serves as an important check on political leaders.  So while Donald Trump may continue to treat journalists with derision, press freedom is not and cannot become a partisan issue in American politics. Journalism is a fundamental pillar of democracy that empowers US citizens to make informed decisions about their daily lives.