Throughout both of Trump’s presidencies, he has called for revoking broadcast licenses from news organizations he hates, particularly after unfavorable coverage. Press briefings became rare and journalists from outlets like the AP were barred from the Oval Office and Air Force One, solidifying an explicit favoritism for right-wing and alternative partisan media. For example:
• After the Associated Press refused to refer to the “Gulf of Mexico” as the “Gulf of America,” the White House “denied its members access to key White House venues”.
• Lawsuits have proliferated: ABC paid $15 million toward Trump’s presidential library after being sued for a misstatement by an anchor. Meta paid $25 million for banning Trump from Facebook post-January 6. Trump personally sued CBS for $20 billion, escalating his claim after the FCC opened a docket into his “60 Minutes” interview complaint.
Press freedom advocates and legal experts have warned that such legal actions function predominantly as intimidation, regardless of court outcomes. At one point:
“The Trump White House has implemented measures restricting media coverage. Press briefings have become less frequent, and reporters from outlets deemed hostile by the administration have faced limited access to presidential events.”
Settlement payouts and withdrawn endorsements by major outlets (such as the Washington Post and LA Times) expose the chilling effects on editorial independence—especially when outlets feared retaliation that could affect ownership interests.
Book Bans and State-Level Censorship
Republican-led states, emboldened by federal rhetoric, have orchestrated a historic surge in book bans. According to PEN America:
• The number of banned books in U.S. schools tripled to at least 10,000 in the last academic year under new GOP state laws—up from 3,362 in the prior year.
• Iowa’s S.F.496 (July 2023) mandated removal of any K-12 materials with “sex acts,” banning classroom discussions of LGBTQ+ and gender identity, with thousands of book removals following swiftly.
• Florida’s H.B. 1069 and similar laws in Utah and Missouri led to a statutory review process requiring books be pulled from shelves while challenged.
• A Washington Post investigation found the majority of book challenges came from just 11 people in 100+ districts—often encouraged and provided scripts by conservative organizations targeting BIPOC and LGBTQ authors.
Anecdotes abound:
• Jamie Gregory, a South Carolina librarian: “This binary choice presents itself for educators—comply and remove books, or risk your job and community standing.”
• In some towns, local library boards threatened closure rather than comply with removing titles.
Despite the Trump Department of Education’s claim to have ended “Biden’s Book Ban Hoax,” the Office for Civil Rights closed 11 active cases of censorship, and the book ban coordinator position was eliminated. Critics saw this as formal abandonment of federal oversight for intellectual freedom in schools.
Voice of America and International Propaganda
The Trump administration orchestrated profound changes at Voice of America (VOA). In 2017, Congress changed the VOA’s governance to allow direct presidential appointments for its CEO, effectively ending its bipartisan independence. Trump appointees—drawn from right-wing activist backgrounds—were sent to oversee content and transition.
Investigative accounts and insider leaks allege that these shifts converted VOA into a “mouthpiece for Trump’s personal brand” reaching a global audience of 236 million.