Freedom of Speech Called Into Question as Trump Administration Targets Media Outlets

By Leyah Jackson

Since Trump’s return to office in January 2025, the Republican administration has fought multiple news outlets in court regarding what information is reported and how. NewsGuard, a company that evaluates the credibility and reliability of news outlets, has become the most recent recipient of pushback by the Trump administration.  

Courtesy of Washington Post

NewsGuard assigns websites a trust score (0-100) based on journalistic standards, such as accurate information and whether it separates news from opinion.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has investigated aspects of its business practices, accusing NewsGuard of suppressing conservative speech. Critics argue it could influence what information people trust, while supporters say it helps combat misinformation and fake news. 

In response, NewsGuard Technologies filed a lawsuit against the FTC and its chairman, Andrew Ferguson, to shut down the investigation. 

Ferguson said in an interview that “I am a law enforcer, and I will follow the law. But the policy priorities are set by the man the people chose to run this government,” expressing that he takes his cues from President Trump, according to The Associated Press, 

NewsGuard is not the first to face attacks from the Trump Administration. In early 2025 the administration punished the Associated Press for refusing to adopt the name “Gulf of America” for the Gulf of Mexico by restricting the news outlet’s access to the president. 

“As an aspiring journalist, I’m very concerned about the safety of journalism as a whole— I believe that people are trying to censor us and add limits to what we can say,” said first-year journalism and communications major JeT’aime Windbush.

The administration also disputed with CBS News’ corporate parent over “60 minutes” editing; sued The Wall Street Journal for its reporting on Trump and Jeffrey Epstein; and is currently in a legal fight with The New York Times over Pentagon reporting restrictions.

These disputes raise questions about the upholding of freedom of speech and freedom of press within the first amendment.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under Brendan Carr has also launched investigations into media companies. Carr accused broadcasters of “running hoaxes and news distortions”, in response to a complaint from Trump about negative coverage of the conflict in Iran and warned them to correct course or see their licenses threatened, per the Associated Press.