A Democratic U.S. senator has criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to provide military assistance to Egypt, arguing that the move has encouraged the Egyptian government to intensify its crackdown on independent journalists and media organizations. The senator expressed concern that the Trump administration had ignored human rights conditions attached to the military aid, weakening efforts to protect press freedom in the country.
The criticism comes amid growing concerns over restrictions on independent media in Egypt. Egyptian authorities have reportedly arrested journalists associated with Matsda2sh, an independent fact-checking platform, and taken action against Mada Masr, one of the country’s leading independent news organizations. A Cairo court also ordered the closure of Mada Masr and imposed a fine on its editor-in-chief, Lina Attalah, over allegations of operating a website without a licence.
The Democratic senator argued that providing military assistance without enforcing human rights conditions sends the wrong message to governments accused of suppressing independent journalism. The controversy has renewed debate in the United States over its military relationship with Egypt and the importance of protecting freedom of expression, independent journalism and human rights.
