Type to search

ANALYSIS NATIONAL

President Trump Is Sending An Alarming Message To The Press

In August, President Donald Trump had the following to say about the media during an interview with Fox News:

No, not at all. But the fake news is, and the fake news is comprised of — it’s a lot. It’s a big chunk, okay? Somebody said, ‘What’s the chunk?’ I said, ‘80 percent.’ It’s a lot. It’s a lot. If I do something well, it’s not reported. Other than in the 20 percent.

The comments were in response to Ainsley Earhardt asking the President, “Is the press the enemy of the people?” The question harkened back to a tweet by Trump, in which he claimed the press was indeed the enemy of the people, leading to a firestorm of controversy.

The tweet from President Trump came after the Capital Gazette Shooting on June 28 of this year, when a gunman entered the Annapolis, Maryland newsroom and shot Rebecca Smith (34), John McNamara (56), Rob Hiaasen (59), Gerald Fischman (61), and Wendi Winters (65) to death.  The President originally denied a request from the city to lower United States flags half-staff in recognition of the tragedy. The decision drew the ire of Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley.

“Obviously, I’m disappointed, you know? Is there a cutoff for tragedy? This was an attack on the press. It was an attack on freedom of speech. It’s just as important as any other tragedy,” Buckley said to the Baltimore Sun. Soon after, Trump would agree to lower US flags.

On October 2nd, journalist Jamal Khashoggi was slain inside the Saudi Arabia consulate in Istanbul, Turkey — igniting an international scandal. Last week Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, resulting in the Saudi government paying the United States $100 million after making a pledge during the summer.

However, many were skeptical of the payment as Saudi Arabia denied any wrongdoing in relation to Khashoggi, despite a slew of evidence showing otherwise. On October 19th, Saudi Arabia changed their story regarding Khashoggi, admitting that he died inside the consulate.

The peculiar story of Kashoggi beginning a fight with approximately 15 specialized members of a Saudi hit team is unlikely, raising further questions about the legitimacy of the investigation by Saudi Arabia. Throughout the situation, President Trump has stated he wishes for the United States to continue selling weapons to Saudi Arabia despite Kashoggi and the atrocities in Yemen. “Well, it depends on what the sanction is. I’ll give ya an example. They are ordering military equipment. Everybody in the world wanted that order. Russia wanted it, China wanted it, we wanted it. We got it,” he stated during a CBS interview with Lesley Stahl.

“I tell you what I don’t wanna do. Boeing, Lockheed, Raytheon, all these com– I don’t wanna hurt jobs. I don’t wanna lose an order like that. There are other ways of– punishing, to use a word that’s a pretty harsh word, but it’s true,” he also stated during the interview. However, the Associated Press fact-checked the President’s claims of how many jobs the weapons deal will create. Commenting on an interview he gave with Fox Business News:

THE FACTS: Trump’s wrong to suggest that he has $110 billion in military orders from Saudi Arabia. A far smaller amount in sales has actually been signed. His State Department has also estimated much fewer U.S. jobs than Trump’s figure of 500,000 to 600,000, projecting “potentially tens of thousands.”

The United States President took another peculiar stance in regards to the freedom of the press earlier in the week when he praised Greg Gianfotre, US Congressman from Montana who was convicted of assaulting Guardian journalist Ben Jacobs who asked about the Republican healthcare plan, which would have stripped healthcare rights away from citizens of the state. Gianforte did not serve any jail time for his assault, and Trump lauding him with praise for his assault on a journalist is alarming. Jacobs and the Guardian released a video concerning the incident.

The press is protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution; however, President Trump has shown that he only values media which cover him in a positive light. The goal of journalism is to investigation information and present objective information to the populace. Political journalism and stenography are two separate practices, journalists refusing to present facts are choosing to appeal to a specific audience not interested in the truth. While the state of journalism has issues within the United States, it’s vital the press remains free and independent.

 

Tags:
Walter Yeates

Walter Yeates is a journalist, novelist, and screenwriter who embedded at Standing Rock with military Veterans and First People in December 2016. He covers a range of topics at Citizen Truth and is open for tips and suggestions. Twitter: www.twitter.com/GentlemansHall or www.twitter.com/SmoothJourno Muckrack: https://muckrack.com/walteryeates

20 Comments

  1. Von Derry October 21, 2018

    Murder is murder is murder….show the body ..you liars

    Reply
  2. Donna Rae Mathre October 21, 2018

    no surprise there !!

    Reply
  3. Roberta Coyle October 21, 2018

    He has been doing this the whole time of his administration

    Reply
  4. Sandy Turner October 21, 2018

    He is Hitler reincarnated. Vote Blue.

    Reply
  5. Fred Latimer October 21, 2018

    You mean Mr. Trump. He is no president.

    Reply
  6. Ari Rodriguez October 21, 2018

    A Saudi citizen columnist/propagandist (not journalist) killed by Saudis on Saudi soil means nothing compared to the importance if international relationships.

    Reply
  7. Andy Millar October 21, 2018

    The Press is alarmed and wants the people to be alarmed. What alarms me is when the press keeps covering this story. The press is alarming. I would rather hear the latest updates on the Mueller/FBI #RussiaGate investigation

    Reply
  8. Nick Shaw October 21, 2018

    Where was CitizenTruth when Obama had an American journalist (for Inspire magazine) offed along with his 16 year old son, two weeks later, with Hellfire missiles? Or when AP’s offices were raided by Obama’s “Justice” Department? Or when James Rosen’s parent’s phones were tapped by Obama’s “Justice” Department? Yeah, no words about that yet, Trump has done none of these things. When Trump talks about fake news, he’s talking about sites like this.

    Reply
  9. Martha Smith October 21, 2018

    Trump approve of,murderng all journist

    Reply
    1. Ari Rodriguez October 21, 2018

      Martha Smith – For English, press one…

  10. Cheryl Casillas October 21, 2018

    VOTE The Blue Wave ??????

    Reply
  11. Gail Ladella October 21, 2018

    You obviously dont know a thing about Hitler, Sandy Turner

    Reply
    1. JoAnn Connor October 21, 2018

      Gail Ladella Oh, but Sandy does! And she’s effing right! Trump is Hitler reincarnated!

  12. April Severin October 21, 2018

    Yes he is he’s condoning a horrible crime unspeakable thing he’s only worried about the money to be made from selling arms to them he’s is a rotten the core piece of shit and deserves to go to jail or get impeached or both VOTE BLUE

    Reply
  13. Larry L. Cunningham October 21, 2018

    Hates the press! Hates journalists! Very dangerous! Did he order the hit?

    Reply
  14. Kiki Jasmine Hope Allen October 21, 2018

    No REALLY??!!! No one has noticed since 2016 why now??

    Reply
  15. Ronald Christensen October 22, 2018

    Trump is one worthless piece of shit !

    Reply
  16. Sandra Dayton October 22, 2018

    Liar, still supplying arms, trump could care less about anyone other than cash

    Reply
  17. Will Feil October 22, 2018

    BS BS BS BS

    Reply
  18. Chari Hayes October 22, 2018

    Because he is a terrorist.
    He has been screwing people over lying and causing pain by or years and went unchecked.
    Now he is using the office of president as a weopon.
    And I hope all he has done will come back on him.

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *