Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt turned questions about Samoa’s fall in the press freedom rankings back on journalists attending his press conference on Wednesday, asking them to ask themselves whether media freedom was being restricted in the country and claiming that a single newspaper, the Samoa Observer, was behind the country’s drop in the rankings.

Speaking at his press conference, from which the Samoa Observer has been banned since November 2025, the Prime Minister questioned Samoa’s ranking of 59th out of 180 countries on the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index. 

“I don’t know who is in charge of the rates to show Samoa stands at number 59,” he said.

When asked what he thought about Samoa’s rankings, the Prime Minister directed the question to the Journalists Association of Samoa (JAWS) president Lagi Keresoma and told journalists in the room to “ask yourselves.”

“You should ask yourselves this question: have I stopped you all from coming to our discussions?” he asked. “Have I stopped all of you from talking to me? Have I closed the doors so you cannot ask me questions?”

He then suggested Samoa’s ranking was influenced by reporting from a single newspaper. “There is only one media that is causing the problem, it is the Observer,” said Laaulialemalietoa. “Why has the government chosen to go against the Observer? Because of all the misinformation that has falsely led the country.”

“So the reason we have placed 59th is because of one newspaper, the Observer, that writes false stories day and night?” he questioned.

There have been repeated attempts by Samoa Observer journalists to attend events involving the Prime Minister. The newspaper has previously reported incidents involving the Prime Minister’s security personnel, including journalists allegedly being physically removed and a camera being seized during public events. “I will not accept a newspaper that goes against the government,” he said, adding that he was protecting both the government and the country.

Laaulialemalietoa further said freedom of expression had limits.

“There’s a bond you don’t go beyond. Freedom of expression is not something you totally have; there are two sides to the coin,” he said. 

Laaulialemalietoa criticised the newspaper's recent reporting on a cabinet directive that agreed to reimburse him for his medical expenses in September 2025. The Prime Minister revealed that his family had spent “hundreds of thousands” on his care. He said his wife, children and family had personally covered the costs.

He also said he was not admitted to Middlemore Hospital after being medically evacuated by air ambulance, but instead received treatment “at home” while in New Zealand.