Editor of US newspaper Stars and Stripes reportedly fired under Trump

The Pentagon has fired the editor-in-chief of the Stars and Stripes , a prominent United States military newspaper, as well as one of its top reporters.

Erik Slavin, the editor-in-chief, told The Associated Press (AP) news agency on Friday that he received a notice of separation, along with the newspaper’s Middle East reporter Lara Korte.

Another notice was sent to Max Lederer , the paper’s longtime publisher, who had previously announced he would retire at the end of September.

Slavin credited the termination notices to the group’s decision to speak publicly about efforts to defend the editorial independence of the Stars and Stripes newspaper.

While the Pentagon provides funding for the Stars and Stripes, the newspaper has worked to maintain its ability to report independently on military matters.

“I stand by the principle that Stars and Stripes must remain editorially independent, as required by law and by the department’s own policies,” Slavin told AP.

He believes he was fired for “stating in a CBS interview that hypothetical censorship of news for service members would constitute a red line”.

The Stars and Stripes has had a storied history covering the US military. Founded in the 19th century, the paper gained prominence during World War II, when it became the official news outlet for soldiers deployed abroad.