Americans’ trust in news organizations and social media has increased since last year, with Republicans driving this shift following Trump’s return to office, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.

The study found that 53% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents now express at least some trust in national news organizations, marking a 13 percentage point jump from September 2024. This represents a significant reversal after years of declining Republican trust in mainstream media.

Trust Varies Across Party Lines and Age Groups

Despite the increase trust levels toward news and social media, Republicans still trail Democrats. About 81% of Democrats report trusting national news outlets, a figure that has remained relatively stable over the past decade.

Local news continues to have higher trust levels across the political spectrum, with 75% of Republicans and 87% of Democrats expressing confidence in these sources.

The survey found that conservative Republicans are less likely than moderate or liberal Republicans to trust information from national news media, with 49% of conservatives expressing trust compared to 61% of moderates or liberals within the party.

Age also plays a significant role in media trust patterns. Older Americans showed the largest increase in trust for national news organizations, with 74% of adults 65 and older now expressing confidence, up from 61% in 2024.

Social media remains the least trusted information source overall, though younger Americans view it more favorably. Among adults 18-29, 54% trust social media information, nearly matching their trust in national news (60%).

The survey, conducted in March 2025, included 9,482 U.S. adults and is weighted to represent the national population.

Read more at Pew Research Center.