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Trait: Journalists investigating the elite are surveilled or smeared ×
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Tier 1 carried by a primary record
Corroborated 2+ independent news desks
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Jul 24, 2026 President Trump defended subpoenaing journalists' family members as an investigative tactic used by prior administrations Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
The president publicly justified targeting reporters' relatives for information, threatening press freedom and journalist safety.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump defended subpoenaing family members of journalists — When asked whether it is appropriate to subpoena family members of journalists to obtain information, Trump stated he did not know what was appropriate and claimed that Barack Obama did it "all the time," asserting a double standard in how his actions are treated compared to his predecessor's.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 79 – 2026-07-18–2026-07-24
wk79_IM_014
Jul 20, 2026 Trump administration subpoenaed phone records of New York Times reporters and their relatives before withdrawing the subpoenas Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
Federal investigators sought broad records targeting journalists' families in an apparent effort to intimidate reporters covering the president.
Independently corroborated by8 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Sought Phone Records of NYT Reporters and Relatives — The Trump administration issued subpoenas seeking phone records of New York Times reporters dating back to January 1, as well as records of their relatives, in connection with an investigation into the Times's reporting on security concerns regarding Trump's new Air Force One, donated by Qatar. The Times characterized the move as a "bad-faith effort to intimidate the journalists and chill their ability to report on the administration." The DOJ later withdrew the subpoenas.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 79 – 2026-07-18–2026-07-24
wk79_IM_008