Joel Simon, former director of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), wrote in an Aug. 26 Vanity Fair article that former President Donald Trump had a negative impact on press freedom and public safety. It was argued that it posed a serious threat and risk. A journalist trying to do his job. But data from the former organization shows that President Trump had fewer deadly attacks on journalists stemming from their work than his predecessors and successors.

CPJ aims to “protect the right of journalists to safely report the news without fear of reprisal.” According to Go to that website. Since 1992, CPJ has annually published records of journalists killed or imprisoned in the line of duty.

Simon, who served as CPJ’s executive director from 2006 to 2021, said Trump was “clearly successful” in undermining public trust in the media and generally contributing to polarization. he claimed. Simon said Trump has “intimidated, coaxed, belittled, degraded, and belittled individual journalists, especially women journalists,” leading the public to “enable new attacks on press freedom.” He claimed to have been influenced. Simon saw this as the first step in the consolidation of power by “autocratic leaders,” pandering to elites while turning the media into political opponents.

Simon predicts that if Trump fails to return to the White House, he could face “hostility and disdain” from journalists who are accused of tipping the scales against the Republican candidate.

Between January 3, 1992 and August 20, 2024, 1,594 journalists were killed worldwide in incidents with a confirmed motive. According to Go to CPJ data. 14 of those deaths were in the United States. In addition, 618 journalists killed They have occurred around the world at the same time with unidentified motives, two of which occurred in the United States.

16 journalists were murdered in the United States from January 3, 1992 to August 20, 2024 (14 deaths with confirmed motives are shown in dark red; 2 with unconfirmed motives) deaths (one each in 2000 and 2016) are shown in lighter shades (shades of red). In 2018, the number of deaths reached a record high of five. (Image source: Committee to Protect Journalists)

During his first term in office, President Trump faced intense scrutiny and frequent commentary from established media organizations. Trump has also frequently been implicated in allegations of threats against press freedom. (Related: Video of police arresting man after allegedly trying to enter media area at Trump rally)

Fake news media (failure) @nytimes, @NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @CNN) are not my enemies, they are the enemies of the American people!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 17, 2017

“Mr. Bolton claims that Mr. Trump privately told him that reporters deserved to go to prison. “These people should be executed. They are scumbags.”

You can check it. This sentiment was echoed again in President Trump’s meeting with Secretary Mattis at the Pentagon.https://t.co/8JdBVA6xYU

— Guy Snodgrass (@GuySnodgrass) June 17, 2020

During President Trump’s presidency from January 20, 2017 to January 19, 2021, 165 journalists were murdered around the world in incidents involving confirmed motives. According to Go to CPJ data. Four of the five deaths in the United States in 2018 were due to the June 28 attack on the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland. fifth death occurred In Chicago.

From January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2020, 165 journalists were murdered around the world (motives confirmed). (Image source: Committee to Protect Journalists)

From January 20, 2017 to January 19, 2021, journalists died around the world due to unidentified motives. totaled In 1982, nothing was recorded in the United States.

Jamal Khashoggi, 59, a Saudi journalist based in the United States, was abducted and murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018. Khashoggi had criticized Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, King Salman’s son and the Arab nation’s de facto ruler. Khashoggi’s body died before it could be dismembered and disposed of, sparking an intense public outcry. The kingdom denied the incident for 18 days and accused its representatives of overstepping their authority. President Trump initially tried to prioritize maintain the bond with the kingdom, but later expressed He was “extremely angry and very unhappy.” (Related: Biden administration seeks to protect Saudi crown prince from lawsuit over gruesome murder)

Between January 20, 2021, and August 20, 2024, when Joe Biden was in office, 192 journalists were murdered around the world in incidents with confirmed motives. Of those, 100 occurred in “Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.” According to To CPJ. Additionally, two deaths occurred in the United States (one in Las Vegas in 2022 and one in Florida in 2023). Globally, the number of journalists killed with an established motive increased by about 16% during the Biden administration’s first term compared to the Trump administration.

From January 1, 2021 to June 18, 2024, 192 journalists were murdered around the world (motives confirmed). (Image source: Committee to Protect Journalists)

Brent Renault, a 50-year-old award-winning filmmaker, was killed on March 13, 2022, while covering Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Renaud was the first American news organization journalist to be killed by Russian forces during the conflict. According to In the New York Times. white house National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan called He said the news was “shocking and horrifying” and promised that the United States would respond with “appropriate consequences” if additional details emerge.

Shireen Abu Akre, 51, a prominent Palestinian-American journalist for Al Jazeera, was shot in the head and killed on May 11, 2022, while covering an Israeli attack. President Biden joined Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem on July 15, 2022. explained It called Abu Akre’s death a “huge loss” and called for a “full and transparent explanation” of the incident.

Furthermore, from December 1, 2021 to December 1, 2023, 305 journalists were imprisoned around the world, 49 of them in China alone. According to Go to CPJ data. Biden’s tally during his first term was about 10% higher than Trump’s tally.

Between December 1, 2021 and December 1, 2023, 305 journalists were imprisoned around the world. CPJ’s census counts people who were incarcerated at midnight on December 1 of each year, not people who were incarcerated and released throughout the year. (Image source: Committee to Protect Journalists)

At least 492 journalists were killed around the world in incidents with confirmed motives during President Barack Obama’s term. According to To CPJ. At least 242 people died during his first term and at least 250 during his second term. Two of these cases occurred in the United States in 2015. Around the world, the number of journalists killed with a proven motive was approximately 50% higher during each term of the Obama administration than during President Trump’s term.

James Foley, 40, was working as a freelance war correspondent in Syria when he was abducted on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012. He was killed in August 2014 by decapitation after a U.S. airstrike in Iraq, becoming the first American citizen to be killed by ISIS. The US military then announced the results of a series of 14 airstrikes in northern Iraq on August 20, 2014, in response to President Obama’s airstrikes. solve “Relentless.”

American-Israeli journalist Steven Sotloff, 31, went missing while reporting from Syria in August 2013. ISIS released a video of his beheading in September 2014. Then President Obama said Outlining its air campaign against ISIS, the United States said it would “degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL.” announced Review of U.S. government policy regarding hostages.

During George W. Bush’s presidency from 2001 to 2008, at least 379 journalists were murdered around the world in incidents with confirmed motives. According to The increase, based on CPJ data, outpaced the pace of President Trump’s two terms.

Daniel Pearl, a 38-year-old Wall Street Journal reporter, was taken hostage and killed in Pakistan in 2002. According to to the Wall Street Journal. Then President Bush expressed He said Pearl’s death was saddening and vowed that the crime “only hurts the cause” and “only deepens the United States of America’s resolve to rid the world of terrorist agents.”

In response to a request from the Daily Caller for comment from the Trump campaign, RNC press secretary Taylor Rogers said, “Unlike the media giants and dangerously liberal Democrats, President Trump has been a champion of free speech. President Trump. Everyone, including journalists, was safer under the United States because of common-sense law and order that kept our cities and neighborhoods safe, and because foreign powers were able to reach out to our enemies. It reminded me not to give up.”

The Daily Caller also reached out to the White House for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.

Ibrahim Garza contributed to this report.