Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire - In a list unveiled on November 2, 2026, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has identified 33 "predators of press freedom," including US President Donald Trump. This list, released on the International Day for the End of Impunity for Crimes Committed Against Journalists, highlights individuals and organizations accused of repressing journalists and restricting access to information.
RSF criticizes Trump for his numerous attacks on the media in the United States, which have escalated beyond rhetoric to physical restrictions on journalists. The organization's report also notes that the US ranks 64th in the World Press Freedom Index. Other leaders on the list include Russian President Vladimir Putin and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, who have been designated as predators in previous years.
The list also features new additions, such as Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, who is accused of imprisoning journalists and closing media outlets, and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokaïev, who allegedly uses abusive judicial procedures against the press. RSF categorizes the 33 predators into five groups based on their methods: political, security, legal, economic, and social.
The social category includes actors who fuel distrust towards the media and encourage cyberattacks against journalists. Argentine President Javier Milei is cited as an example, with over 1,600 hostile posts about the press on his social media account in just 47 days between April and May 2026.
RSF Director-General Thibaut Bruttin states that this list aims to identify those responsible for the decline in press freedom and document their tactics. He emphasizes that despite their diverse strategies, these predators share a common goal: to prevent journalists from doing their job and deprive citizens of free and independent information.
The list includes other notable entities, such as the Israeli Armed Forces, the Chinese Communist Party, and Mexican cartels, all accused of violence and repression against media professionals. By publishing this list, RSF seeks to raise public awareness about the threats facing journalism and calls for support in its efforts to document and denounce press freedom abuses.
Through this initiative, RSF continues its campaign to protect press freedom and hold accountable those who seek to undermine it. The organization remains committed to monitoring and exposing the actions of these predators, working to ensure that journalists can work freely and that citizens have access to reliable and unbiased information.
Key points
- Donald Trump is among 33 individuals and organizations designated as "predators of press freedom" by RSF in 2026.
- The list includes leaders from various countries, such as Russia, Nicaragua, Egypt, and Kazakhstan, accused of repressing journalists and restricting press freedom.
- RSF categorizes the predators into five groups based on their methods, including political, security, legal, economic, and social tactics.
