As President Donald Trump approaches the 100-day mark of his second presidency, he continues to carry out the threats he made on the campaign trail against the news media by intensifying his monumental assault on press freedom. In both his personal and official capacities, he is attacking the credibility, independence, and sustainability of the news media in the United States and around the world. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) lays out 10 key numbers that illustrate his administration’s unconstitutional assault on the country’s press freedom and the right to reliable information in the US and globally.

Donald Trump campaigned for the White House by unleashing a nearly endless barrage of insults against journalists and news outlets. He repeatedly threatened to weaponize the federal government against media professionals whom he considers his enemies. In his first 100 days in office, President Trump has already shown that he was not bluffing. 

“The day-to-day chaos of the American political news cycle can make it hard to fully take stock of the seismic shifts that are happening. But when you step back and look at the whole picture, the pattern of blows to press freedom is quite clear. RSF refuses to accept this massive attack on press freedom as the new normal. We will continue to call out these assaults against the press and use every means at our disposal to fight back against them. We urge every American who values press freedom to do the same.
Clayton Weimers, Executive Director, RSF North America

Here is the Trump administration’s war on the press by the numbers*:

  • 427 million – Weekly worldwide audience of the USAGM news outlets silenced by Trump

In an effort to eliminate the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) by cutting grants to outlets funded by the federal agency and placing their reporters on leave, the government has left millions around the world without vital sources of reliable information. This leaves room for authoritarian regimes, like Russia and China, to spread their propaganda unchecked. However, RSF recently secured an injunction against the administration’s dismantling of the USAGM-funded broadcaster Voice of America, which also reinstates funding to the outlets  Radio Free Asia (RFA) and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN).

  • 8,000+ – US government web pages taken down

Webpages from more than a dozen government sites were removed almost immediately after Donald Trump took office, leaving journalists and the public without critical information on health, crime, and more. 

  • 3,500+ – Journalists and media workers at risk of losing their jobs thanks to Trump’s shutdown of the USAGM 

Journalists from VOA, the MBN, RFA, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty are at risk of losing their jobs as the Trump administration works to shut down the USAGM. Furthermore, at least 84 USAGM journalists based in the US on work visas now face deportation to countries where they risk prosecution and severe harassment. At least 15 journalists from RFA and eight from VOA originate from repressive states and are at serious risk of being arrested and potentially imprisoned if deported.

  • 180 – Public radio stations at risk of closing if public media funding is eliminated

The Trump administration reportedly plans to ask Congress to cut $1.1 billion in allocated funds for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). These cuts will hit rural communities and stations in smaller media markets the hardest, where federal funding is most impactful.

  • 74 –Days the Associated Press (AP) has been banned from the White House

On February 11, the White House began barring the AP from its events because of the news agency’s continued use of the term “Gulf of Mexico,” which President Trump prefers to call the “Gulf of America” — a blatant example of retaliation against the media. Despite a federal judge ruling the administration must reinstate the news agency’s access on April 9, the White House has continued to limit AP’s access.

  • 64 – Disparaging comments made by Trump against the media on Truth Social since inauguration

In addition to regular, personal attacks against the media in press conferences and public speeches, Trump takes to his social media site nearly every day to insult, threaten, or intimidate journalists and media workers who report about him or his administration critically. 

  • 13 –Individuals pardoned by President Trump after being convicted or charged for attacking journalists on January 6, 2021

Trump pardoned over a dozen individuals charged with or convicted of violent crimes against journalists at the US Capitol during the January 6 insurrection. 

  • 6 –Federal Communications Commission (FCC) inquiries into media companies

Brendan Carr, co-author of the “Project 2025” playbook and chair of the FCC, has wasted no time launching politically motivated investigations, explicit threats against media organizations, and implicit threats against their parent companies. These include inquiries into CBS, ABC parent company Disney, NBC parent company Comcast, public broadcasters NPR and PBS, and California television station KCBS.

  • 4 – Trump’s personal lawsuits against media organizations 

While Trump settled a lawsuit with ABC’s parent company Disney, he continues to sue CBS, The Des Moines Register, Gannett, and the Pulitzer Center over coverage he deemed biased.

  • $1.60 – Average annual amount each American pays for public media

Donald Trump has threatened to eliminate federal funding for public broadcasting, framing the move as a cost-cutting measure. However, public media only costs each American about $1.60 each year, representing a tremendous bargain as it gives Americans access to a wealth of local, national, and lifesaving emergency programming.

*Figures as of the date of publication.