Gallup Poll Reveals Record-Low Trust In Media, With 36% Expressing No Confidence

A Gallup poll released Monday reveals that trust in the media has hit a record low, with only 31% of Americans saying they have confidence in the media’s ability to report the news “fully, accurately, and fairly.” This is the lowest point since Gallup began tracking media trust, tying with previous lows in 2016 and 2023.

The sharp decline is attributed to growing public disillusionment with how the media covers major stories, such as Hunter Biden’s laptop, the 2020 pandemic, and the January 6 investigation. The poll shows that more Americans now say they have no trust at all in the media (36%) than those who express any degree of confidence.

There remains a significant partisan divide in media trust. While 54% of Democrats continue to place some level of trust in the media, only 27% of independents and just 12% of Republicans feel the same.

Trust in the media has seen a steady decline over the past several decades. In the 1970s, confidence levels ranged between 60% and 70%, but that number has plummeted in recent years, particularly since the rise of social media platforms that challenge traditional news outlets. The poll reflects the growing distrust many Americans feel toward mainstream media’s role in shaping public opinion.