• by Ray Schultz , Columnist, February 25, 2025

Journalists are alarmed over the Trump administration’s announcement that it will now choose which reporters get to cover it close up. They see it as a clear First Amendment issue.  

But they shouldn’t expect much support in the hinterland, judging by a new pool from YouGov. 

It found that only 29% of Americans have at least a fair amount of trust in the media to accurately report the facts. In contrast, 44% have faith that Donald Trump will state the facts fully. 

Worse, 43% believe news organizations want Trump to fail. 

In line with that, 35% think Trump’s coverage is too negative. But 23% feel it is too positive, and 25% say the tone of the coverage is just about right. 

All of this is largely based on party affiliation.  

Among the Democrats polled, 42% think the media coverage of Trump has been too positive. And they are joined in this by 6% of Republicans.

On the other side, 63% of Republicans and 12% of Democrats say the coverage has been too negative. 

One would expect readers in each party to prefer coverage that fits with their beliefs. Not so: 59% think the media should be neutral. This includes 64% of Democrats and 52% of Republicans.

It is not yet known what citizens think of today’s White House announcement about press coverage. 

“The White House press team, in this administration, will determine who gets to enjoy the very privileged and limited access in spaces such as Air Force One and the Oval Office,” said Karoline Leavitt, at a press briefing, AP reports. 

Leavitt added: “A select group of D.C.-based journalists should no longer have a monopoly of press access at the White House.”

But this move means “the president can pick and choose who covers the executive branch, ignoring the fact that it is the American people who through their taxes pay for the running of the White House, the president’s travels and the press secretary’s salary,” says Jon Marshall, a media history professor at Northwestern University and author of “Clash: Presidents and the Press in Times of Crisis,” according to AP.

As reported, U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden has temporarily declined to order that AP have its access restored to White House events. But McFadden thinks case law does not favor the administration. Another hearing is scheduled for March. AP filed suit last Friday. 

The reason for AP's exclusion? It appears to be over AP's adherence to the name, "Gulf of Mexico," over Trump's chosen "Gulf of America." 

For its survey, YouGov surveyed 1,124 Americans, from January 30-February 3, 2025. Of these, 48% voted for Harris and 50% for Trump in the 2024 election.