Republicans Now More likely To Trust News Outlets

A new Pew Research Center study reveals a notable shift in Republicans’ trust in information from news outlets and social media since 2024. 

The study, part of Pew’s ongoing research into news habits and media trust since 2016, highlights evolving attitudes among U.S. adults, with specific insights into partisan differences. 

Increased Trust in National News Outlets Among Republicans:

• In 2025, 53% of Republicans reported having at least some trust in information from national news outlets, up significantly from 40% in 2024.
• This 13-percentage-point increase suggests a growing acceptance of traditional news sources among Republicans, potentially reflecting changes in media consumption or political climate following the 2024 presidential election.

The study notes that 28% of Americans aged 65 and older have at least some trust in information from social media, compared to 74% who trust national news organizations and 84% who trust local news outlets. While specific figures for Republicans’ trust in social media were not detailed, the broader trend indicates that younger adults (18-29) are more likely to trust social media, with 50% expressing at least some trust.

Overall Trust: Americans across political affiliations are generally more likely to trust information from both news organizations and social media in 2025 compared to 2024. This shift reverses some of the distrust observed in prior years, particularly during the polarized 2020-2024 period.

The study suggests that Republicans’ increased trust may be linked to their improved confidence in the political system post-2024, as evidenced by other Pew findings showing 35% of Republicans were satisfied with the state of the nation in 2025, up from 10% in October 2024.

The 2024 presidential election, won by Donald Trump, appears to have influenced Republicans’ attitudes.