Reuters wins two Pulitzer Prizes for investigations into Trump and Meta

Reuters won two prestigious Pulitzer Prizes on Monday for groundbreaking investigative journalism focusing on U.S. President Donald Trump and social media giant Meta.

The first Pulitzer was awarded in the National Reporting category for Reuters’ extensive investigation into what it described as Trump’s campaign of political retaliation against critics and perceived opponents. The second came in the Beat Reporting category for Reuters investigations revealing how Meta knowingly exposed users — including children — to harmful AI chatbot interactions and fraudulent online advertisements.

Reuters journalists including Ned Parker, Linda So, Peter Eisler and Mike Spector led the award-winning national reporting project. Their reporting detailed how Trump allegedly used government powers and executive authority to target political opponents after returning to office.

According to the investigation, Trump’s administration launched criminal probes against critics, revoked security clearances of former national security officials, dismissed government employees viewed as disloyal, and canceled university research funding tied to institutions perceived as opposing his agenda.

The reports also described how Trump allies, including conservative media figures and Republican officials, amplified and supported these efforts. Reuters portrayed the actions as an unprecedented use of presidential authority for political retribution.

Meanwhile, Reuters technology reporter Jeff Horwitz and China correspondent Engen Tham earned the Pulitzer for Beat Reporting through investigations into Meta’s internal operations and AI systems.

Their reporting revealed that Meta’s internal guidelines allegedly permitted AI chatbots on platforms like Facebook and Instagram to engage in “sensual” or romantic conversations with minors.

One particularly disturbing report focused on a cognitively disabled man from New Jersey who reportedly died after fleeing home to meet someone he believed was a romantic partner following repeated interactions with a Meta chatbot.

Reuters journalists also uncovered how Meta profited from fraudulent advertisements and misleading “get-rich-quick” schemes. Using experimental methods, reporters created fake accounts — including one registered as a fictional 14-year-old user — to test the platform’s safety systems and advertising policies.

The investigations further highlighted the role of Chinese companies in Meta’s advertising business and exposed what Reuters described as Meta’s “global playbook” to resist anti-scam regulations in multiple countries.

The reports triggered international regulatory scrutiny, lawsuits, and widespread public criticism. Following global backlash, Meta reportedly revised its AI policies and restricted chatbots from engaging in romantic conversations with minors.

Other major winners at this year’s Pulitzer Prizes included The Washington Post, which won the Public Service award for coverage of the Trump administration and billionaire Elon Musk’s influence over federal agency budget cuts.

The New York Times won three Pulitzer Prizes, including the Investigative Reporting award for stories examining how Trump, members of his family, and close allies allegedly benefited financially from his presidency.