To gain Trump’s favor, the leaders of many of these mega-wealthy companies were on prominent display during his 2025 inauguration, telegraphing to their shareholders and to the incoming White House their willingness to toe the administration line in exchange for special treatment.

Industry titans like Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg were there in person but also in kind, contributing millions of dollars to Trump’s presidential campaign (Musk) and inaugural ceremonies (Bezos, Cook, Zuckerberg) as an ostensible bribe. The message behind their money was clear: Treat us well in antitrust proceedings, federal contracts and other matters before the government and we will help spread the president’s gospel across our many influential platforms, frequented by billions of people worldwide. 

Online Platforms & Streaming Company Profiles

Follow each company link to learn more about its rating.

Rating Media’s Complicity with the Trump Administration

Free Press rates the degree — on a scale of one to five chicken heads (🐔) — to which each media company has compromised its commitment to independent news and information in exchange for political favors and higher profits, or simply to get the Trump administration off its back. In the rare instance where a company displays admirable independence from the political pressures of Washington, it earns a star (⚝), an ideal of autonomy to which all media must aspire if our democracy is to survive. 

In many cases, the question is not “who owns the media?” but “who owns the media owners?” This tracker provides readers with an often disturbing answer.

Legend

⚝ = Independent  
🐔 = Vulnerable
🐔🐔 = Compromising
🐔🐔🐔 = Capitulating 
🐔🐔🐔🐔 = Obeying
🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔 = Propaganda