Trust in Media
Percentage of U.S. adults expressing trust and confidence in mass media, 1997–2025
Trust in mass media fell to 28% in 2025, the lowest level since Gallup began annual tracking in 1997
Democrats (51%) and Republicans (8%) differ by 43 percentage points on trust in media
Trust in mass media reached its highest level in the annual tracking series in 1998 and 1999
Republican trust in media dropped to single digits for the first time in the trend
Trust in Mass Media Over Time
Comparative Dataset
| Date | All Adults (%) | Democrats (%) | Independents (%) | Republicans (%) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 53 | — | — | — | [1] |
| 1998 | 55 | — | — | — | [1] |
| 1999 | 55 | — | — | — | [1] |
| 2000 | 51 | — | — | — | [1] |
| 2001 | 53 | — | — | — | [1] |
| 2002 | 54 | — | — | — | [1] |
| 2003 | 54 | — | — | — | [1] |
| 2004 | 44 | — | — | — | [2] |
| 2005 | 50 | — | — | — | [3] |
| 2009 | 45 | — | — | — | [4] |
| 2010 | 43 | — | — | — | [4] |
| 2011 | 44 | — | — | — | [5] |
| 2012 | 40 | — | — | — | [6] |
| 2013 | 44 | — | — | — | [5] |
| 2014 | 40 | 54 | 38 | 27 | [7] |
| 2015 | 40 | 55 | 33 | 32 | [8] |
| 2016 | 32 | 51 | 30 | 14 | [9] |
| 2017 | 41 | — | — | — | [10] |
| 2018 | 45 | 76 | 42 | 21 | [10] |
| 2019 | 41 | 69 | 36 | 15 | [11] |
| 2020 | 40 | 73 | 36 | 10 | [12] |
| 2021 | 36 | 68 | 31 | 11 | [13] |
| 2022 | 34 | 70 | 27 | 14 | [14] |
| 2023 | 32 | 58 | 29 | 11 | [15] |
| 2024 | 31 | 54 | 27 | 12 | [16] |
| 2025 | 28 | 51 | 27 | 8 | [17] |
Context
Gallup has tracked Americans' trust and confidence in mass media annually since 1997, asking whether people have a "great deal," "fair amount," "not very much," or no confidence at all in the media to report news fully, accurately, and fairly. From 1997 through 2003, slim majorities consistently expressed at least a fair amount of trust, with the measure peaking at 55% in 1998 and 1999. A sharp 10-point drop in 2004 brought trust to 44%, and the measure has not returned to majority territory since.
The decline has accelerated in recent years and become increasingly shaped by partisanship. In 2016, trust hit what was then a record low of 32% as Republican confidence collapsed from 32% to 14% during a divisive presidential campaign. A brief recovery brought the overall figure back to 45% in 2018, but the rebound proved short-lived. By 2022, the share of Americans expressing no trust at all exceeded the share expressing trust for the first time.
The partisan gap has widened substantially. In the early 2000s, Democrats and Republicans expressed broadly similar levels of trust. By 2025, the gap had grown to 43 points, with 51% of Democrats but only 8% of Republicans expressing confidence in mass media. Age differences have also emerged: among adults 65 and older, 43% express trust, compared with no more than 28% in any younger age group, a divergence that was not present in the early years of the survey.
Citations & Data Sources
- 01.
Gallup. Media Use and Evaluation: Historical Trends. Gallup historical trend data for trust in mass media, 1997–2003
news.gallup.com/poll/1663/media-use-evaluation.aspx - 02.
Gallup. Americans' Trust in the Mass Media (April 2004). Detailed breakdown showing 2003 trust at 54% and noting the subsequent decline
news.gallup.com/poll/11428/Americans-Trust-Mass-Media.aspx - 03.
Gallup. Trust in News Media Rebounds Somewhat This Year. September 2005 survey showing trust rebounded to 50% after dropping to 44% in 2004
news.gallup.com/poll/18766/trust-news-media-rebounds-somewhat-year.aspx - 04.
Gallup. Distrust in Media Edges Up to Record High. September 2010 survey data: 43% trust in mass media; 57% little or no trust
news.gallup.com/poll/143267/Distrust-Media-Edges-Record-High.aspx - 05.
Gallup. In U.S., Trust in Media Recovers Slightly From All-Time Low. September 2013 survey showing trust at 44%, up from 40% in 2012
news.gallup.com/poll/164459/trust-media-recovers-slightly-time-low.aspx - 06.
Gallup. U.S. Distrust in Media Hits New High. September 2012 survey: 60% little or no trust; 40% great deal/fair amount
news.gallup.com/poll/157589/distrust-media-hits-new-high.aspx - 07.
Gallup. Trust in Mass Media Returns to All-Time Low. September 2014 survey: 40% trust, tying 2012 record low; partisan breakdown included
news.gallup.com/poll/176042/trust-mass-media-returns-time-low.aspx - 08.
Gallup. Americans' Trust in Media Remains at Historical Low. September 2015 survey: 40% trust overall
news.gallup.com/poll/185927/americans-trust-media-remains-historical-low.aspx - 09.
Gallup. Americans' Trust in Mass Media Sinks to New Low. September 2016 survey: 32% trust, record low at the time
news.gallup.com/poll/195542/americans-trust-mass-media-sinks-new-low.aspx - 10.
Gallup. U.S. Media Trust Continues to Recover From 2016 Low. September 2018 survey: 45% trust, highest since 2009; includes 2017 data at 41%
news.gallup.com/poll/243665/media-trust-continues-recover-2016-low.aspx - 11.
Gallup. Americans' Trust in Mass Media Edges Down to 41%. September 2019 survey: 41% trust, matching 2017 level
news.gallup.com/poll/267047/americans-trust-mass-media-edges-down.aspx - 12.
Gallup. Americans Remain Distrustful of Mass Media. September 2020 survey: 40% trust; 73% among Democrats, 10% among Republicans
news.gallup.com/poll/321116/americans-remain-distrustful-mass-media.aspx - 13.
Gallup. Americans' Trust in Media Dips to Second Lowest on Record. September 2021 survey: 36% trust, second-lowest since tracking began
news.gallup.com/poll/355526/americans-trust-media-dips-second-lowest-record.aspx - 14.
Gallup. Americans' Trust In Media Remains Near Record Low. September 2022 survey: 34% trust; first year more people had no trust at all than had trust
news.gallup.com/poll/403166/americans-trust-media-remains-near-record-low.aspx - 15.
Gallup. Media Confidence in U.S. Matches 2016 Record Low. September 2023 survey: 32% trust, matching 2016 record low
news.gallup.com/poll/512861/media-confidence-matches-2016-record-low.aspx - 16.
Gallup. Americans' Trust in Media Remains at Trend Low. September 2024 survey: 31% trust, new record low at that time
news.gallup.com/poll/651977/americans-trust-media-remains-trend-low.aspx - 17.
Gallup. Trust in Media at New Low of 28% in U.S.. September 2025 survey: 28% trust, first time below 30%; includes partisan and age breakdowns
news.gallup.com/poll/695762/trust-media-new-low.aspx