Chilling Statement

Data Tracked For This Category

Select public threats made to reporters and media organizations by U.S. politicians and other public figures, which can have a chilling effect on journalism.

Recent Incidents

Kari Lake targets press as senior adviser for U.S. Agency for Global Media
1. Chilling Statement
Date of incident

June 25, 2025

Location

Washington, District of Columbia

Targets

Alhurra, Alhurra-Iraq, Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio y Televisión Martí, Sawa Iraq, Sawa Levant, Voice of America
- #Donald Trump
Trump, his administration move to punish outlets during second term
1. Chilling Statement
Date of incident

June 3, 2025

Location

Washington, District of Columbia

Targets

Media, Middle East Broadcasting Networks, National Public Radio, PBS News, Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio y Televisión Martí, Voice of America
- #Donald Trump
Pete Hegseth targets news outlets, leakers as defense secretary
1. Chilling Statement
Date of incident

May 26, 2025

Location

Washington, District of Columbia

Targets

Haley Britzky (CNN), Media, The New York Times
- #Donald Trump
Andrew Ferguson targets news media as FTC chair
1. Chilling Statement
Date of incident

May 21, 2025

Location

Washington, District of Columbia

Targets

Media Matters for America
Kristi Noem targets press, leakers as homeland security secretary
1. Chilling Statement
Date of incident

May 20, 2025

Location

Washington, District of Columbia

Targets

Media, The Dakota Scout
- #Donald Trump
Kash Patel targets press, leakers as FBI director
1. Chilling Statement
Date of incident

April 28, 2025

Location

Washington, District of Columbia

Targets

Media
Pam Bondi targets journalists, leakers as U.S. attorney general
1. Chilling Statement
Date of incident

April 25, 2025

Location

Washington, District of Columbia

Targets

Media
- #Donald Trump
Tulsi Gabbard targets press, leakers as national intelligence director
1. Chilling Statement
Date of incident

April 23, 2025

Location

Washington, District of Columbia

Targets

HuffPost, Media, NBC News, The Record, The Washington Post
- #Donald Trump

Go to Incidents Database

Articles About Chilling Statement

In 100 days, a laundry list of attacks on the media

From limiting media access to investigating journalists, the Trump administration’s first 100 days have targeted the media on multiple fronts

Published

April 30, 2025

Written by

Kirstin McCudden
Trump, allies pursue multipronged campaign against the press

Published

July 1, 2025

Written by

Stephanie Sugars
All the president’s invective

Tracking Donald Trump's anti-press rhetoric online as both candidate and president

Published

January 14, 2025