A new Pew Research Center survey reveals a surprising shift in American media trust: Republicans are significantly more likely in 2025 than last year to trust information from national news organizations and social media platforms. The trend coincides with Donald Trump’s return to the presidency.
The increase represents a break from a nearly decade-long decline in GOP trust in mainstream media.
GOP trust in national news rebounds
In September 2024, just 40% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents said they had at least some trust in national news organizations. As of 2025, that figure has jumped to 53%—a 13-point increase.
While still lagging behind Democrats, this marks a notable reversal of course. Republican trust in national media had been steadily declining since 2016.
Among Democrats, trust remains steady, with 81% saying they trust information from national outlets—a figure that has held stable for nearly ten years.
Trust in local news and social media rises among Republicans
Republicans also report increased confidence in local news and social media content:
- 75% now trust information from local news outlets, up from 66% in 2024.
- 45% say they trust social media information, an 8-point increase since last year and more than double the 19% reported in 2021.
Interestingly, Republicans are now more likely than Democrats (45% vs. 38%) to trust information from social media—an unexpected reversal given recent years of GOP criticism of digital platforms.
Ideological divides persist among Republicans
The Pew survey also found that trust varies by ideology within the Republican Party:
- 49% of self-identified conservative Republicans trust national media.
- 61% of moderate or liberal Republicans say the same.
While trust has increased across the board, conservative Republicans remain more skeptical of mainstream outlets than their moderate counterparts.
Democrats, by contrast, show high and consistent trust levels across ideological lines: 84% of liberals and 79% of moderates or conservatives express trust in national news.
Older Americans drive overall increase in trust
Trust in news has increased across most age groups, with the sharpest rise among older adults:
- 74% of adults 65 and older trust national news organizations, up from 61% in 2024.
- Adults aged 50–64 increased from 62% to 68%.
- Adults aged 30–49 rose from 57% to 66%.
- Young adults under 30 saw a smaller increase—from 56% to 60%.
Local news remains the most trusted source across all age groups, with particularly strong support among the oldest adults (84%) and the youngest (76%).
Social media trust remains lowest overall—but not among youth
While social media remains the least trusted source overall, younger adults are more open to it:
- 54% of adults aged 18–29 say they trust information on social media at least some—a level nearly matching their trust in national media (60%).
- Among Americans 65 and older, only 28% trust information from social media, underscoring a wide generational gap.
What it means for media and politics
This uptick in trust—especially among Republicans—could reshape how media organizations engage with audiences during Trump’s new term. It may also signal shifting perceptions of which platforms are seen as aligned with or adversarial to political identities.
While the partisan trust gap in national media persists, the overall rise suggests a slight thaw in a long-frozen media landscape.
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