WASHINGTON—At a press conference today, President Trump threatened to compel journalists to disclose confidential sources in response to reporting about the administration’s handling of the war in Iran. The comments come amid escalating efforts by the administration to challenge news coverage, raising serious First Amendment concerns about press independence, newsgathering, and the public’s right of access to information.

The following can be attributed to Jameel Jaffer, executive director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University:

“News organizations have a First Amendment right to publish stories about matters of public importance—including stories the government would prefer to suppress. President Trump’s threat to force journalists to disclose their sources raises serious press freedom concerns because journalists’ ability to do their work turns in part on their ability to protect their sources’ identities. President Trump's threat should be understood as an effort to intimidate the press and to prevent journalists from doing work the public needs them to do.”

For more information, contact: Adriana Lamirande, [email protected]