Trump: Journalism I don't like is the 'opposite of the free press'

Trump declared Friday — which is that if the press doesn’t praise or celebrate him, “that’s the opposite of free press.”

Even worse, he made the comments on World Press Freedom Day — in response to a question from a reporter that specifically mentioned World Press Freedom Day, and asked Trump what he himself can do to improve his relationship with the media instead of re-airing his old grievances.

As usual, Trump went with the grievances.

Trump said he had a good relationship “with some of the press,” before whining that “some of the press doesn’t cover me accurately.”

“When you have stories that are purposely written badly, in many cases very much on purpose — I mean, you look at it — that’s not free press. That’s the opposite of free press,” Trump said.

Trump’s idea of the “free press” would only include publications and outlets that deify him, like right-wing propaganda outlets like Fox News and Breitbart.

It would exclude publications from across the United States and the world, across the ideological spectrum, that accurately inform their audiences of Trump’s corruption, incompetence, and lack of intelligence.

Trump has spent years whining and complaining about the press, and even his desire to push legislation limiting the power of the press.

Trump’s comments run directly counter to the First Amendment of the Constitution he swore to uphold.

The Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of the press. It says nothing about stories that are “written badly,” or that accurately portray the many problems with Trump and his unpopular presidency.

Trump doesn’t understand the basics of the Constitution, and cannot reign in his dictatorial impulses to say otherwise.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.