Donald Trump appeared to talk down about Pentagon restrictions that aim to severely limit journalists’ abilities to report on US military issues.
The president faced questions about the directive as he departed the White House for Charlie Kirk’s memorial service on Sunday. Asked whether the Pentagon should be in charge of deciding what reporters can report on, Trump said: “No, I don’t think so.”
He added: “Nothing stops reporters. You know that.”
In a memo issued days earlier, the US military demanded that journalists must pledge not to gather any information – including unclassified documents – that has not been authorized for release or else risk revocation of their press passes.
Using an abbreviation for the recently rebranded Department of War headed by Trump appointee Pete Hegseth, the memo said: “DoW information must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified.”
And in a post on X, Hegseth said Friday: “The ‘press’ does not run the Pentagon – the people do. The press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of a secure facility. Wear a badge and follow the rules – or go home.”
The memo follows an announcement by Hegseth in May regarding new press restrictions at the Pentagon. These limit reporters’ movements within the building to specific areas including the press pens, food court and courtyard.
Related: Pentagon demands journalists sign pledge not to gather certain information
Under previous presidential administrations, reporters typically had more freedom of movement within the Pentagon.
Hegseth has severely limited media access after facing backlash for sharing sensitive information about US strikes in Yemen in March in a Signal group chat where a journalist was accidentally included.
Since he assumed office, Hegseth has maintained a hostile attitude towards major media networks. He ordered the removal of various longstanding news organizations including the New York Times, CNN, Politico and NPR from their dedicated offices in the Pentagon.
Journalists and free press advocates have criticised the new restrictions. The National Press Club’s president, Mike Balsamo, saying: “This is a direct assault on independent journalism at the very place where independent scrutiny matters most: the US military.
“If the news about our military must first be approved by the government, then the public is no longer getting independent reporting. It is getting only what officials want them to see. That should alarm every American.”
Freedom of the Press Foundation said “this policy operates as a prior restraint on publication, which is considered the most serious” violations of the press freedoms guaranteed by the US constitution’s first amendment.
“The government cannot prohibit journalists from public information merely by claiming it’s a secret,” the foundation said.
