Pentagon attack on Stars and Stripes is part of Trump’s war on media
August 26, 2026
The Aug. 21 firing of the publisher, editor and a reporter at the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, along with recent restrictions on what the paper can publish, are examples of the Trump administration’s efforts to limit what Americans can learn about government actions.
The firings came soon after Stars and Stripes reported on harsh conditions — including food and water shortages, and malfunctioning plumbing — experienced by sailors deployed since November on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which was participating in President Trump’s war of choice against Iran. The newspaper reported that some sailors were “struggling with exhaustion and declining morale, including reports of suicidal thoughts.”