Washington, D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated his long-standing war on the press, declaring that critical coverage of his administration by major American media outlets is “illegal.” Speaking at the Department of Justice in Washington, Trump accused television networks such as CNN and MSNBC of being partisan tools of the Democratic Party, claiming they reported negatively about him “97.6 percent” of the time.
“They are truly corrupt and illegal. What they are doing is illegal,” Trump asserted, arguing that their coverage amounted to political interference. He further alleged that mainstream news organizations function as “highly paid political operatives” coordinating their reports against him, insisting that this should be deemed “judicial tampering.”
Trump’s Ongoing Battle with the Media
Trump’s hostility toward the press is not new. For years, he has openly attacked journalists at public events—particularly during campaign rallies—often eliciting enthusiastic applause from his supporters. He has repeatedly referred to major news outlets as “enemies of the people” and has accused them of spreading misinformation.
During his election campaign, Trump even suggested revoking the broadcast licenses of networks that criticized him. Since returning to office, his administration has taken unprecedented steps to restrict journalistic access, including barring reporters from the Associated Press (AP) from the White House and Air Force One. The move came after AP refused to adopt Trump’s newly mandated term, “Gulf of America,” for the Gulf of Mexico.
In another break from long-standing traditions, the Trump administration stripped the Independent Journalists Association of White House Correspondents of its authority over the assignment of reporters to the presidential press pool. Meanwhile, the White House has increasingly given access to right-wing media outlets, influencers, bloggers, and podcasters—whom it now refers to as “new media.”
A Growing Threat to Press Freedom?
Trump’s latest remarks have raised concerns among media watchdogs and press freedom advocates, who warn that such rhetoric could further erode journalistic independence in the United States. His ongoing efforts to delegitimize traditional news organizations, while simultaneously elevating partisan-friendly outlets, signal a continued shift in the media landscape—one that may have lasting implications for democracy and free speech.
