When US President Donald Trump criticized an Australian reporter for asking a tough question, the latter's colleagues saw it as a cautionary message. With plans to reduce correspondent visa durations and issuing subtle warnings, foreign journalists in the US are experiencing increased pressure.


Earlier this week, an Australian Broadcasting Corporation journalist questioned Trump about his business activities while in office, which visibly annoyed him. Trump told the reporter, John Lyons, "In my opinion, you are hurting Australia very much right now, and they want to get along with me. Your leader is coming to see me soon. I'll tell him about you. You've set a very bad tone." This interaction sparked widespread discussion in Washington media circles.


A foreign correspondent, speaking anonymously to AFP, said Trump's antagonism toward journalists isn’t limited to foreigners. "When Trump insults a journalist, it doesn’t matter to him whether they’re foreign or not," the reporter said. More concerning is the administration’s plan to cut journalist visas from five years to a renewable 240-day period, and to 90 days for Chinese media workers. The correspondent questioned how they could manage everyday logistics like renting housing, obtaining a driver's license, or enrolling children in school with such short visa terms, adding that building a network of sources requires time. "It's going to be a nightmare."


Another European correspondent noted that while the vulnerability of foreign journalists doesn't make them direct targets of the administration, it contributes to a troubling overall situation. The White House prefers journalists who either support its narratives or self-censor to accept what’s happening, the correspondent added.


AFP reached out to several foreign journalists for comment, but few responded and only on condition of anonymity. Katherine Jacobsen from the Committee to Protect Journalism warned that shortening I-visa durations could encourage editorial censorship, allowing the Trump administration to trade access for compliant reporting. Mike Balsamo, president of the National Press Club in Washington, agreed, noting such measures could provoke retaliation against American journalists overseas. He wrote on X that a free press depends on correspondents being able to work in the US without fearing their visas will expire.


Although the interviewed correspondents did not report overt hostility from the White House, political figures in Trump’s "Make America Great Again" movement have targeted foreign journalists. Former ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, a close Trump ally, recently called for revoking the visa of a German ZDF TV journalist. Grenell accused the journalist of inciting violence and said, "There is no place in America for this kind of agitator."


After last week’s assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, a senior official warned foreigners who express support, justification, or trivialization of the event. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said on X, "Feel free to report such comments by foreigners to me."


However, not all foreign media outlets have faced negative treatment with Trump’s return. Some outlets known for views aligned with Trump’s have been welcomed by the White House. British channel GB News, featuring far-right figure Nigel Farage, recently gained access to the Oval Office, and its journalist was given a prized seat on the US presidential plane during Trump’s UK visit. When Trump entered the press box, the journalist said their viewers had joked about whether he wanted to "swap jobs" with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.