The dismissal of key personnel at the military newspaper Stars and Stripes on Aug. 21 highlights the attempts by the Trump administration to curb freedom of information. Recent limitations imposed on the publication coincide with its reporting on the hardships faced by sailors on the USS Abraham Lincoln. These include shortages of essentials and deteriorating morale. President Trump refuted these reports, inaccurately claiming the vessel was well-maintained.
Such actions mirror those of regimes where press freedom is non-existent. The administration’s efforts to suppress critical media voices are documented by the Freedom of the Press Foundation. These efforts include multi-billion-dollar lawsuits against media outlets, defunding NPR and PBS, and attempts to revoke broadcast licenses of critical networks.
Trump’s narrative suggests that his statements, even when false, should be accepted as truth, while genuine reporting is labeled false. This has led to declining approval ratings as trust erodes.
The situation with Stars and Stripes and the Department of Defense’s restrictions on its content limit the accurate reporting available to service members. The staff, employed by the Defense Department, are bound by a directive to ensure unbiased reporting. However, this policy was reversed in January, under the guise of modernization. Restrictions now prohibit using stories from The Associated Press, which provide unbiased news globally.
The changes are aimed at steering Stars and Stripes towards favorable administration reporting. The firing of an ombudsman who highlighted these threats to editorial freedom and her subsequent lawsuit underscore the severity of these actions.
Stars and Stripes boasts a historical reputation for impartial reporting, dating back to World Wars I and II, with leaders recognizing its independent value. However, the contemporary political climate sees Trump labeling the media as dishonest and anti-American, echoing historical dictators who silenced dissent.
Media serves a crucial role in informing the public and holding power to account. While all presidents have faced media scrutiny, Trump has taken unprecedented steps to suppress critical coverage. As an 80-year-old president, Trump’s stance is unlikely to change. Future leadership should respect the 1786 view by Thomas Jefferson that liberty is intertwined with press freedom.
A. Scott Bolden is an attorney and NewsNation contributor. Previously, he served as the chair of the Washington, D.C. Democratic Party and as a New York state prosecutor.
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