Just days after the Egyptian government detained and then expelled a celebrated New York Times reporter, President Trump took to Twitter early Wednesday morning and renewed his attacks on the press, this time calling out the New York Times specifically.
“The New York Times reporting is false,” Trump declared. “They are a true ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!”
The New York Times reporting is false. They are a true ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 20, 2019
Trump was responding to a bombshell Times report that detailed his attempts circumvent federal investigations into his 2016 campaign and ensuing presidency, which according to the Times raises serious questions about his alleged obstruction of justice.
Responding to Trump’s tweet was Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger, who said in a statement that Trump is encouraging “threats and violence against journalists at home and abroad.”
“The phrase ‘enemy of the people’ is not just false, it’s dangerous,” Sulzberger wrote. “It has an ugly history of being wielded by dictators and tyrants who sought to control public information. And it is particularly reckless coming from someone whose office gives him broad powers to fight or imprison the nation’s enemies.”
Also weighing in was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who tied Trump’s tweet into what she sees as glaring hypocrisy on the part of conservatives who rail against “socialism.”
While the right keeps screeching on calling everything “socialism” (as nations w/ univ healthcare + better work standards enjoy better health & work life than Americans),
they happily cheer on an authoritarian President & defend the destruction of American Democracy. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Qy0l01OOj5
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 20, 2019
“While the right keeps screeching on calling everything ‘socialism’ (as nations w/ univ healthcare + better work standards enjoy better health & work life than Americans), they happily cheer on an authoritarian President & defend the destruction of American Democracy,” she tweeted.
As Trump voices his authoritarian inclinations on Twitter, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas signaled that he might willing to play the role as Trump’s enabler. This Tuesday, Thomas said he may consider making it easier for defamation suits to be filed against journalists who do adversarial reporting.
Featured image via screen grab/NBC News
