Trump, the Press and Politics

Published in El Heraldo de México
(Mexico) on 24 September 2025
by José Carreño Figueras (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Stephen Routledge. Edited by Patricia Simoni.
But this is perhaps part of a broader political vision within the framework of President Donald Trump's enormous effort to expand the scope of power of the presidency.

U.S Secretary of War Peter Hegseth announced last week that those wishing to cover U.S. Department of Defense information must sign an agreement to use only official, pre-approved information.

But this is perhaps part of a broader political vision within the framework of President Donald Trump's enormous effort to expand the powers of the presidency, although some are beginning to think he may have gone too far; the Republican Party could be negatively impacted.

For now, however, and without the justification of “gender violence” used in courts by some Mexican governors to try to silence critical media, Hegseth has attempted to impose, with the stroke of a pen, information control that was acceptable during World War II but has held no credibility for decades.

Hegseth's efforts are not unique, and in fact are in line with the Trump administration, which also has a troubled relationship with the media. It sees the media as adversarial, and proposes a regime that concerns defenders of press freedom in the United States.

Trump is particularly sensitive to criticism and claims that the vast majority of information published — either about him personally or about his administration — is negative.

Earlier this year, Trump created a minor storm when he banned reporters from the Associated Press news agency from the Oval Office and the presidential plane for refusing to use the term “Gulf of America” instead of the historic “Gulf of Mexico.”

Over the weekend, he threatened to revoke the broadcasting licenses of radio and television companies that disseminate critical information. Although this may seem legally out of place, he can resort to extralegal pressure, such as using the Federal Communications Commission to curb or even discredit business movements around those networks.

In fact, officials in his administration used this procedure to seek and achieve the dismissal of two comedians critical of the president, Stephen Colbert on CBS and Jimmy Kimmel on ABC, although the storm that followed forced Disney to reinstate Kimmel on Tuesday night. The worst part of the case is that FCC Director Brendan Carr has sought to pressure media companies to be “fairer” to President Trump.

Over the weekend. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican and former rival of Trump for his party's presidential nomination, said this sets a negative precedent, as Republicans could eventually face similar measures if the Democrats regain power.

And that is neither impossible nor does it seem too far-fetched.


Trump, prensa y política

Pero es tal vez parte de una visión política más amplia en el marco de un enorme esfuerzo del presidente Donald Trump por ampliar los márgenes de poder de la Presidencia

El secretario Peter Hegseth anunció la semana pasada que quienes deseen cubrir la información del Departamento de Defensa estadounidense deben firmar un compromiso de que utilizarán solo información oficial, previamente aprobada.

Pero es tal vez parte de una visión política más amplia en el marco de un enorme esfuerzo del presidente Donald Trump por ampliar los márgenes de poder de la Presidencia, aunque algunos comienzan a pensar que tal vez se haya excedido y enfrente resultados negativos para el Partido Republicano.

Por lo pronto; sin embargo, y sin tener la justificación de "violencia de género" que usan algunas gobernadoras mexicanas para tratar de silenciar judicialmente a medios críticos, Hegseth trató de llevar así, de un plumazo, controles de información que fueron aceptables en tiempos de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, pero hace ya décadas que están rebasados por la realidad.

La determinación de Hegseth no es única, y de hecho sigue los pasos del gobierno del presidente Trump , que tiene una atribulada relación con los medios informativos, a los que considera como adversarios y plantea un régimen que preocupa a los defensores de la libertad de prensa en Estados Unidos.

Trump es particularmente sensible a la crítica y asegura que una inmensa mayoría de la información que se publica, es negativa, para él personalmente o para su gobierno.

A principios de año, Trump creó una pequeña tormenta cuando prohibió el acceso de reporteros de la agencia noticiosa Prensa Asociada, a la Oficina Oval y al avión presidencial por su negativa a usar el término "Golfo de Estados Unidos" en vez del histórico "Golfo de México".

El fin de semana amenazó, de hecho con la posibilidad de retirar licencias de transmisión a empresas de radio y televisión, que divulguen información crítica, y aunque en principio parecer legalmente fuera de lugar, puede recurrir a presiones extralegales como utilizar a la Comisión Federal de Comunicaciones (FCC) para frenar o incluso desautorizar movimientos empresariales alrededor de esas cadenas.

De hecho, funcionarios de su gobierno utilizaron ese procedimiento para buscar y lograr el despido de dos comediantes críticos del mandatario, Stephen Colbert, en la CBS, y Jimmy Kimmel, de la ABC, aunque la tempestad obligó a la empresa Disney a reinstaurar a Kimmel desde la noche de la noche del martes.Lo peor del caso es que el director de la FCC, Brendan Carr, ha buscado presionar a empresas de comunicación para obligarlas a ser "más justas" respecto al presidente Trump.

El senador Ted Cruz, republicano y en algún momento competidor de Trump por la candidatura Presidencial de su partido, señaló el fin de semana que es un precedente negativo, toda vez que eventualmente los republicanos pueden enfrentar ese tipo de medidas si los demócratas llegaran a reconquistar el poder.

Y eso no es imposible ni parece tan lejano.
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