US Slides to 64th in 2026 Press Freedom Index Amid Trump’s Media Crackdowns

The U.S. fell seven spots to 64th place in Reporters Without Borders’ 2026 World Press Freedom Index, as the organization concluded that President Donald Trump “has turned his repeated attacks on the press and journalists into a systematic policy.”

The annual survey evaluates press freedom across 180 countries and territories. Reporters Without Borders stated that Trump’s “weaponization of state institutions” — including efforts to defund NPR and PBS, influence corporate media mergers, and call for journalists’ arrests — has intensified challenges for reporters already facing economic pressures and eroding public trust.

“Since his return to office, journalists have also been targeted on the ground during protests, reflecting a broader deterioration that amounts to one of the most severe crises for press freedom in modern US history.”

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Global Press Freedom Trends

More than half of the 180 countries and territories surveyed were classified in the “difficult” or “very serious” categories for press freedom.

Trump’s Media Pressure Campaign

The U.S. decline reflects the president’s persistent attacks on journalists and sustained efforts to pressure media outlets. While Trump maintains frequent communication with reporters, his administration has used federal and judicial channels to influence news coverage.

• In 2025, the Trump administration’s Justice Department and FBI executed a search of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson’s home.
• The DOJ targeted journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort after they covered an anti-ICE protest at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
• Trump has met multiple times with Paramount CEO David Ellison, who has highlighted his close ties to the president amid Paramount’s bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.

Trump has also filed lawsuits against The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the BBC since resuming office. Administration officials have issued threats to outlets including CBS News and New York magazine.

The Federal Communications Commission, led by Trump ally Brendan Carr, has launched investigations into several media organizations, including demanding early reviews of broadcast licenses for ABC’s local stations.