US concern over press freedoms grows with parties now switching sides
3 Min Read
A new poll reveals that most Americans are concerned about restrictions on freedom of the press in the US.
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President Donald Trump waves to the media as he leaves after a luncheon with the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, R-La., and Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin at the US Capitol, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Most Americans remain concerned about potential restrictions on press freedom in the US, even though political views have shifted significantly since President Donald Trump returned to office in January, a new poll by Pew Research Center revealed.
Overall, seven out of ten Americans express at least some concern about possible limits on press freedom, a right guaranteed under the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
Among them, 43% say they are very concerned.
These figures are nearly identical to those from a similar poll conducted in April 2024, during Biden’s administration, when 41% reported being very concerned and 29% were somewhat concerned.
Shift in party views since Trump's return to office
However, the individuals expressing concern have changed notably along party lines. In 2024, during the Biden administration, 47% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents said they were highly concerned about restrictions on press freedom, compared to 38% of Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents.
Today, under Trump's new administration, a majority of Democrats, about 60%, say they are deeply worried about press freedom in the US. This figure is roughly double the percentage of concerned Republicans, now standing at 28%, according to Pew Research Center.
Trump administration actions spark press freedom fears
The poll comes amid several actions by the Trump administration that have raised alarms among press freedom advocates.
For instance, the White House barred the Associated Press from the Oval Office and Air Force One due to an editorial dispute over the term "Gulf of Mexico." The issue is now being litigated after a judge ruled the ban violated the First Amendment.
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In addition, Trump has filed multiple lawsuits against media organizations, accusing them of defamation and election interference. These moves have intensified the debate over US media restrictions and the future of First Amendment rights.
Public reactions to Trump’s media policies
According to the poll, Americans who closely follow news about Trump’s policies are more likely to be concerned about press freedom. Among those paying close attention, nearly half (49%) report being very worried about media restrictions.
Conversely, those less engaged with news on this topic are less concerned. Only about three in ten (29%) of this group express strong concern over press freedom in the US.
It is worth mentioning that in February, the White House barred reporters from several news outlets, including Reuters, from attending Trump's first cabinet meeting, aligning with the administration's new media coverage policy.
An Associated Press photographer and three journalists from Reuters, HuffPost, and the German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel were denied entry.
Meanwhile, TV crews from ABC and Newsmax, as well as correspondents from Axios, The Blaze, Bloomberg News, and NPR, were allowed to cover the event.
