Pence: Trump administration has “defended the freedom of the press on the world stage”
(In addition to labeling the press, “The Enemy of the People,” Trump’s legal defense in the Jim Acosta suit was that the President is entitled to decide which reporters can cover him! Gee, I wonder why he lost.)
Thomas Jefferson in his day, once espoused the opinion that the ‘Free Press’, they had created was the greatest threat to the People ever devised. But he also said that it was a necessary evil in order to hold the government to task. On the other hand, the government was going to have to hold the press accountable for their actions, as well.
Pretty sure Trump believes the same thing. He just doesn’t like CNN.
Trump has no interest in being held accountable for his actions, and is therefore totally opposed to a “free” press. If the President gets to decide which reporters can cover him, then the press is not free at all, but just an unofficial adjunct of the government.
As for the government holding the press accountable – the President is free to use his pulpit to explain when he thinks they are wrong, but Trump never does. He never explains WHY he thinks the press is biased, using a specific fact-based argument (for example: “here is what I really said, he is how they quoted me”), he just generalizes that they are “very unfair.” Jefferson is quite clear in his writings that the government must oppose the press with REASON, not with FORCE. Trump, who is basically a despot at heart, only believes in force. He does not think he should have to defend his opinions, but merely to shout down and insult those who oppose them.
If he didn’t keep lying and bragging and fabricating and throwing shade, thus giving the press material to criticize (e.g. people going back and voting in disguise, biggest inauguration crowd ever), they would not keep attacking him, but no responsible newspaper is going to ignore the fact that the President of the United States is lying non-stop, constantly saying negative things without any support, and constantly making every tragedy worse for the victims. If he simply stopped doing that, he would be able to control the press with his own agenda.
There are many ways he could explain that no nation can allow unlimited, unfettered immigration, nor can it possibly give asylum to everyone in the world who lives in harsh and brutal conditions, no matter how big the heart of the receiving nation. Instead of presenting that case with logic, he chooses to present it with racism and lies. (Has anyone seen even a single person from the Middle East in that “caravan”?)
If I could talk to him candidly over lunch, I would offer Trump only one opinion: make only positive statements, and never make any claims that you can’t support with specific facts.
Of course he could never do that, just as the scorpion could not avoid stinging the turtle who gave him a ride to safety.
And of course, he never listens to anyone, so why bother giving him advice?