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A new Pew Research Center survey reveals a stark partisan divide in how Americans view press freedom during President Donald Trump’s second term. Overall, 44% of U.S. adults believe the press has become less free since Trump returned to office in January 2025, while 12% say it has become more free. The remaining respondents either see no change or remain uncertain about the matter.
The data shows a dramatic split along party lines. Among Democrats, 72% believe press freedom has declined, compared to just 15% of Republicans. Among those who perceive decreased press freedom, an overwhelming 92% consider this development harmful to the country. Trump has maintained his historically adversarial relationship with news organizations through litigation against outlets including the New York Times, BBC, and Wall Street Journal, alongside various administrative actions affecting media access.
Despite these tensions, Americans broadly recognize the importance of a free press. Roughly 73% say press freedom is extremely or very important to society’s well-being. However, this support contains nuance: when choosing between accuracy and unrestricted reporting, 53% prioritize preventing false information, while 45% prioritize press freedom. Similarly, majorities support government restrictions on reporting that threatens national security or contains significant inaccuracies, suggesting Americans hold competing values regarding media regulation.
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Originally reported by Variety →
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