IRE condemns post by President Trump depicting violence against journalists

Nov 10, 2026 — Investigative Reporters & Editors condemns President Donald Trump’s posting of a cartoon that depicts journalists being assaulted by professional fighters at the White House.

The video, posted on Truth Social, undermines the role of the press in a functioning democracy. It makes light of the violence that many journalists face while simply doing their job. Last year, assaults on journalists nationwide more than doubled compared with the year before, according to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.

IRE joins the Chauncey Bailey Project in denouncing President Trump’s juvenile and dangerous message. The Chauncey Bailey Project was established to finish the work of its namesake, the editor of the Oakland Post who was assassinated 19 years ago while walking to work. In 2023, IRE renamed its signature fellowship for journalists of color in Bailey’s honor.

His death is another chapter in the sad history of violence against American journalists — a history present since IRE’s earliest days. This year, IRE is commemorating Don Bolles, an Arizona Republic reporter who was murdered 50 years ago as he worked to expose the mafia’s infiltration in the state. Many other journalists have been killed since then. In 2018, a shooter killed five employees of the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Md., over a long-standing grudge about an article the newspaper published about him. Four years later, Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German was stabbed to death outside his home by an elected official who was angry about his reporting.

Today, journalists in Washington must be able to ask questions without being intimidated by the most powerful man in political office. In addition to covering regimes that are hostile to a free press, journalists endure risks to inform the public about wars, protests and conflicts.

“Journalists have a hard and at times dangerous job, but they do it because they believe in the importance of informing the public and holding the powerful to account,” said Jonathan Kealing, IRE’s executive director. “We call on the Trump administration to delete this post and refrain from posting any future videos that suggest violence against the media is an acceptable way to handle disagreements.”

IRE is a grassroots nonprofit organization that seeks to improve the quality of investigative reporting. The organization began in 1975 after a small group of reporters from around the country gathered to share tips about reporting and writing. Today, it provides members access to thousands of reporting tipsheets and other materials through its Resource Center and hosts conferences and specialized training across the country.