Reporters Without Borders Organization includes Donald Trump on its list of "press freedom predators"

U.S. President Donald Trump has been included by the organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on its annual list of "press freedom predators," due to his attacks on journalists, restrictions imposed on media professionals, and attempts to transform journalism into political communication, EFE reports.

The list published by RSF also includes other leaders-such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko-alongside various political, military, and economic actors accused of threatening the independence of the press or the safety of journalists.

• RSF points to intensifying pressure on the press in the U.S.

According to the organization, since the beginning of Donald Trump's second term in January 2025, attacks on the press have increasingly moved beyond mere rhetoric and public policy, extending to physical restrictions imposed on journalists. RSF asserts that the U.S. President has intensified efforts to reduce journalism to political communication. The organization also notes that the United States has fallen seven places in its press freedom ranking over the course of a single year, dropping to 64th position.

This year's list also includes the Israeli armed forces, the Chinese Communist Party, and Mexican cartels. In the case of Mexico, RSF denounces the climate of intimidation created by organized crime groups, in a country where journalists continue to be killed in connection with their professional work.

• Political leaders accused of intimidating journalists

A new addition to the list is Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. RSF cites his role in the arrest of journalists from the fact-checking platform Matsaddash and the closure of the independent publication Mada Masr. Also in this category are Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other leaders accused by the organization of using state institutions to silence critical voices.

The list aims to highlight both the pressures exerted directly by authorities and the threats to journalists' safety posed by political actors or criminal groups.

• Tech giants and billionaires criticized for their influence on the press

RSF also draws attention to the impact of economic influence on editorial independence. This category includes American companies Alphabet-the owner of Google-and Meta, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. The organization also points to billionaires such as Frenchman Vincent Bollore, who holds stakes in print and broadcast media, and Georgian businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili, accusing them of undermining independent media institutions or exerting pressure on editorial autonomy. Elon Musk appears on the list once again; RSF criticizes him for promoting disinformation via the social media platform X, fostering hostility toward journalists, and undermining freedom of information. Argentine President Javier Milei is also included, due to his repeated attacks on journalists and media outlets critical of his administration-accusing them of corruption, lying, and political manipulation.

• The list has been updated since the previous edition.

For this year's edition, RSF has removed several names that appeared on the 2025 list-either because the individuals no longer play a central role in actions against the press, because they have passed away, or because they have been removed from power. Among those removed is former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the initial operations of the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran. Also removed from the list are Nicolas Maduro-ousted from the leadership of Venezuela following a U.S. military operation and subsequently transferred to a prison in the United States-as well as Viktor Orban and Aleksandar Vuèić, both of whom lost power following elections in Hungary and Serbia, respectively. Through this annual list, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) draws attention to the political, economic, and violent pressures that can compromise press freedom and the ability of journalists to provide independent information to the public.