Fewer Americans than ever believe the US media have a lot of freedom, according to new polling from Gallup.
The statistic underscores the erosion of confidence in US press freedom — particularly among Democrats and independents — as President Donald Trump wages a battle against outlets he perceives as biased.
Fewer than seven in 10 Americans polled over the summer say the media in the US has a substantial amount of freedom.
A separate Gallup survey released Tuesday found that a third of US adults say they have a lot or a fair amount of confidence in newspapers, television, and radio reporting, an increase from the 28% low recorded last year. That bump in trust is driven by Republicans.
Both polls were taken before Trump barred CNN, Politico, and MS NOW from covering the White House, a move that has since been temporarily paused by a federal judge.