Overview
- The Pew Research Center and Knight Foundation report published Sept. 15, 2026 found 44% of U.S. adults say the press is less free under President Trump’s second term while 12% say it is more free.
- Perceptions split sharply by party with about 72% of Democrats saying the press is less free and roughly 15% of Republicans saying the same.
- Most Americans value press freedom—73% call it extremely or very important—but 53% prioritize preventing inaccurate reporting over absolute press freedom when forced to choose.
- Large shares back specific limits: about 60% say the government should be able to order a news story taken down for national security risks and about 51% support takedowns for false information.
- The report links those views to concrete actions since January 2025—including lawsuits against major outlets, Pentagon credential changes, DOJ subpoenas, staffing moves at Stars and Stripes, restricted AP access and efforts to cut public broadcasting funding—and notes only about a third of Americans understand key First Amendment limits, a gap that could deepen legal fights and chill reporting.