New Delhi: A majority of Americans value press freedom, but a significant number of them are open to some limits on it if doing so curbs inaccurate reporting, states a recent report by the Pew Research Center. While 73 per cent of the survey respondents said that they considered press freedom to be very important to the well-being of society, about 53 per cent maintained that some constraints are acceptable in matters of national security and false information.
“(Press freedom is) designed to protect all of us. It’s a point of pride of this country,” said a Left-leaning man in his 60s. “And that’s not true in a lot of other countries. … It’s for the benefit to the country and its citizens, even more than the journalists.”
Democrats (81 per cent) are more likely than Republicans (66 per cent) to say that press freedom is highly important in a country.
Published Tuesday, the report is based on two surveys conducted in March and June 2026. The first was conducted among 3,507 American adults, and the second considered 3,488 individuals. The Pew Research Center also conducted 10 online focus group discussions with 74 participants, held between May and June 2026.
Trump 2.0 and press freedom
Overall, 44 per cent of Americans said the press has become less free during the second Trump administration, compared with 12 per cent who said it has become more free. About 26 per cent held that there has been no change, and 17 per cent couldn’t be sure.
“I think the powers that be in this country don’t care as much about the Constitution as the rest of us,” a Left-leaning man in his 50s said. “They will try to limit everything that they can that doesn’t slant their way or make them look good. That’s a real big problem for me.”
One in five Republicans said the press has become more free during the second Trump administration. In focus groups, several Right-leaning participants supported Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter (now X). A man in his 50s called it “a big turning point”.
Those on the Right point to the Biden administration’s reluctance to engage with the media when questioned about Trump.
“I like the fact that President Trump, at least he knows how to hold a press conference every week, versus the administration before,” said a Right-leaning man in his 60s. “We got nothing.”
Also read: Europeans are losing purchasing power by keeping money in banks, says study