Trump Targets Media With Lawsuits and Threats of Government Action

President-elect Trump is escalating legal and procedural tactics against the press, raising concerns about press freedom and self-censorship.

President-elect Donald Trump has filed multiple lawsuits against media outlets, including ABC News, CBS, and The Des Moines Register, alleging defamation and election interference.
ABC News recently settled a $15 million defamation suit with Trump, a move critics say may embolden further legal challenges against the press.
Martin Baron, former editor of The Washington Post, warns that the Trump administration is likely to use government tools to prosecute journalists and suppress critical reporting.
Trump has appointed loyalists to key roles, including Kari Lake as the new director of Voice of America, raising concerns about political interference in publicly funded media.
Experts and press freedom advocates caution that these actions could create a chilling effect, leading to self-censorship and undermining public trust in journalism.