Pentagon Blasted For Turning U.S. Military Newspaper Into Trump ‘Mouthpiece’

Critics say the Trump administration’s move to limit editorial independence at Stars and Stripes threatens press freedom for U.S. service members

Blue Press Journal – The Pentagon faced a backlash following its decision to effectively take control of the legendary U.S. military newspaper Stars and Stripes and crack down on its apparent “woke” tendencies.

Defense Department spokesperson Sean Parnell on Thursday announced the publication would be returning to “its original mission: reporting for our warfighters.”

It follows a controversial Pentagon’s press corps edict that saw scores of reporters leave the building, and a new Trump “loyalty test” for Stars and Stripes reporters.

But free speech advocates hit out at out the decision to throttle an outlet that was first published during the Civil War, and whose editorial independence is mandated by Congress despite being part of Defense Department.

Tim Richardson, journalism and disinformation program director of PEN America, said the country “needs more independent reporting – not less” as Trump’s foreign policy positions turn increasingly aggressive. 

“American troops overseas deserve credible, trustworthy news guaranteed by the First Amendment, a cornerstone of the Constitution they defend,” he said in a statement. “Instead, the Pentagon is trying to turn this independent newsroom into a mouthpiece for the administration’s political messaging.”

In a message to staff published in Stars and Stripes, Erik Slavin, the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, said “the people who risk their lives in defense of the Constitution have earned the right to the press freedoms of the First Amendment.”

“We will not compromise on serving them with accurate and balanced coverage, holding military officials to account when called for,” he added.