When Donald Trump issued an executive order in March leading to the closure of Voice of America (VOA)—a global broadcaster born out of efforts to counter Nazi propaganda—he unexpectedly won praise from figures typically at odds with any U.S. administration.
The order called for the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the federal body funding VOA and other outlets that support independent journalism abroad, aiming to eliminate it “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.” As a result, programming in 49 languages reaching more than 425 million people was abruptly halted.
The reaction from authoritarian regimes was swift and celebratory. In Moscow, RT’s editor-in-chief, Margarita Simonyan, hailed the move as an “awesome decision.” China’s Global Times likened the shutdown to tossing out the broadcasters “like a dirty rag,” calling them purveyors of “propaganda poison.” Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, whose government has long faced criticism for suppressing dissent, praised the decision as “very promising.”
Back in the U.S., Trump has intensified his own campaign against the media, suing major outlets such as CBS News and ABC, trying to block White House access for the Associated Press, and pushing to defund public institutions like NPR and PBS, which he has labeled “radical left monsters.”
Globally, media leaders are expressing concern that authoritarian governments are feeling emboldened by a U.S. administration that not only undermines domestic journalism but also retreats from its historic role in defending press freedom abroad.
As the world observes Press Freedom Day on May 3, experts warn that America’s withdrawal from promoting free media in fragile regions could have profound and lasting consequences.
In addition to the closure of VOA, which was established in 1942 during World War II and broadcasts in nearly 50 languages, Trump also withdrew funding from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), founded during the Cold War and serving regions including Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine.
Jeffrey Gedmin, the head of the US-funded Arabic-language news outlet Alhurra, criticized the decision to cut staff and services, warning it would “silence America’s voice in the Middle East.”
Meanwhile, media freedom is facing growing challenges globally, with journalists in Turkey, including BBC correspondent Mark Lowen, facing arrests and deportations, and troubling reports of escalating threats to press freedom in Serbia.
Marty Baron, the former editor of the Boston Globe and Washington Post, reflects: “The United States used to apply pressure on countries that undermined free expression and limited press freedom. It was something the U.S. government stood for and was seen as a model for free speech.”
“Now, the U.S. is no longer viewed as a model. Authoritarian leaders, or those aspiring to be autocrats, have realized they face no pressure from the United States. This has essentially given other countries a free pass to be more aggressive in attacking the press.”
“There’s no doubt this has emboldened leaders around the world,” Baron continues. “We’re also witnessing a rise in authoritarianism in other nations.”
Steve Herman, VOA’s chief national correspondent, emphasizes that for many in repressive countries, VOA was often the only link to the United States. “In societies with no alternative sources of news and limited internet access, I wonder what people are thinking about what’s happening in the U.S. For them, it’s as if the United States has disappeared.”
Herman describes the push to shut down VOA and other media outlets as a “constitutional emergency” and notes that he has heard from former listeners who are now hearing Chinese broadcasts on some of the frequencies VOA once used.
While a federal judge has blocked efforts to dismantle VOA, RFE/RL, and other related organizations, uncertainty remains, and a government appeal is expected. Meanwhile, the EU has been unable to step in to fill the gap left by the lost funding.
The exit of US-funded media coincides with the BBC World Service facing its own financial struggles due to the decline in the licence fee. The BBC, like many others, has long played a key role in delivering independent media to global audiences.
Jonathan Munro, global director of BBC News, warns that “three-quarters of countries around the world don’t have free media, and that number is only getting worse.” He adds that the problem isn’t just the absence of free media, but the aggressive spread of disinformation and misinformation, which bombards people’s phones 24/7. “That’s a recipe for a poorly informed, or misinformed, global population.”
Munro points out that authoritarian regimes are already capitalizing on the West’s retreat, expanding their own media influence. “China and Russia are particularly ambitious,” he notes. “Iran and Turkey are also growing players in this space. The Chinese are very active in Africa, the Russians in the Middle East, and both are increasing their presence in Latin America. Much of this space has been vacated by us over the years due to financial decisions.”
With Trump’s early efforts to attack the media at home and defund US-backed independent media abroad, some of the damage could be irreversible, according to Marty Baron. “It’s highly destructive, with no valid rationale, and it will be incredibly difficult to recover from,” he says. “Trump has shown a remarkable ability to destroy things, and it’s clear he’s on a mission to destroy an independent press.”
