The White House under President Donald Trump has escalated its war on the media by launching a controversial new website that publicly names and shames journalists and major news organisations.
The 'Offender Hall of Shame'
Dubbed the 'Offender Hall of Shame', the web portal, launched on December 2, 2025, lists what the administration calls 'false and misleading stories'. It provides detailed entries featuring story links, the names of news outlets, and the journalists who wrote the articles.
Each listed piece is categorised under labels including 'misrepresentation', 'omission of context', 'bias', and 'malpractice'. More inflammatory tags such as 'lie', 'false claim', and even 'left-wing lunacy' are also used. Visitors to the site are urged to scroll 'for the truth'.
Major Outlets in the Crosshairs
The list targets some of the world's most reputable news sources. Outlets named include The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, BBC, MSNBC, and the Associated Press.
One specific example highlighted is an AP article that challenged unfounded claims by Trump linking paracetamol use to autism. The White House categorised this report as a 'false claim, lie and malpractice'.
In another instance, a Washington Post report detailing how over 30 people were killed by gunfire at a US aid site in Gaza was condemned, with the administration accusing the paper of acting as 'a mouthpiece for a jihadist terrorist organisation'.
A Pattern of Hostility Towards the Press
This move is the latest in a series of confrontations between the Trump administration and the media. Just days before the site's launch, the president aggressively insulted a female reporter who asked him to explain why he blamed Joe Biden for the shooting of two National Guard members.
When the journalist cited a Department of Justice statement, Trump retorted: 'Because they let them in. Are you stupid? Are you a stupid person?' He has also been filmed calling a female reporter a 'piggy', pointing his finger in her face, and telling her to be quiet aboard Air Force One.
Further restrictions on media access have been implemented. Press accreditation for the Pentagon has been restricted predominantly to right-wing outlets. Journalists from other organisations were seen packing their belongings after refusing to sign an agreement that would bar them from reporting any information from government employees without explicit Pentagon authorisation.
This combination of public shaming and institutional barriers marks a significant intensification in the administration's efforts to challenge and control media narratives.
