Full Breakdown
U.S. Press Freedom Index Plummets to 64th Amid Trump Administration's Assault on Media
5/1/2026, 4:39:58 PM
Decline in U.S. Press Freedom Ranking
The 2026 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index placed the United States at 64th of 180 countries, a seven-position fall from 57th the year before and the nation’s lowest rank ever. RSF links the slide to policies pursued since President Donald Trump took office.
Background: Policy Actions, Media Consolidation, and FCC Pressure
Since 2025 the Trump administration has intensified attacks on journalists, sued critical outlets and moved to curtail public broadcasters. Media ownership is now dominated by six firms—Comcast, Walt Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, Paramount Skydance, Sony and Amazon—controlling most U.S. news. In March 2026 FCC chair Brendan Carr warned he would revoke licences of broadcasters he called “running hoaxes and news distortions” and not serving the “public interest.”
Data Snapshot
The United States fell to 64th (down seven spots) in 2025. RSF recorded over 170 attacks on journalists in 2025, roughly double 2024’s total. Six corporations now control the majority of television, cable and streaming news outlets.
Official Statements & Responses
RSF North America director Clayton Weimers called the situation a “press freedom crisis” and urged legal protection for journalists. The FCC, via Chair Carr, framed its licensing actions as enforcement of the public-interest mandate.
Criticism & Opposition
Senator Ted Cruz warned the FCC should not act as “the speech police.” Media-rights advocates argue Carr’s threats chill local newsrooms and undermine investigative reporting. The six-company media oligopoly narrows editorial diversity, magnifying governmental pressure.
Why the Decline Matters
The drop signals greater danger to journalists, weaker watchdog functions and reduced public access to unbiased news—essential pillars of democracy. Heightened attacks and regulatory pressure risk silencing coverage of the Iran war, immigration policy and corruption for democratic governance.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The US has experienced a steady decline in the RSF Index over the past decade, but President Trump is pouring gasoline on the fire,” — Clayton Weimers, RSF North America
- “Trump and his administration have carried out a coordinated war on press freedom since the day he took office, and we will live with the consequences for years to come.” — Clayton Weimers, RSF North America
- “In March, FCC chair Brendan Carr said he would revoke the licences of broadcasters that are “running hoaxes and news distortions”, and that do not “operate in the public interest” in their reporting on the US-Israel war with Iran.” — FCC statement, cited by RSF
- “not believe the FCC should operate as the speech police” — Senator Ted Cruz, U.S. Senate
What’s Next
RSF will publish its 2026 methodology later this year and monitor FCC investigations. Advocacy groups have filed legal challenges to the licensing threats, and congressional hearings on media consolidation are slated for the coming months.
