When the NY TImes interviewed T this week What's driving the narrative? Is it fake news, PR stunts, real legal arguments? , with Sulzberger, Baker and Haberman were in attendance, T danced around the question of ‘fake news,’ when Sulzberger questioned him. And is his way, T declared “I do believe I’m a victim of that.”
No question that the press can go after a president, and try to expose all his intentions, and actions. And the criticism is sharp and deep, but we expect that the press is all over the President’s actions.
It is always clear that when T does not like his coverage, he chants “Fake News” because he is thin-skinned, and thinks like an autocrat, or reflexively denounces it.
There’s no excuse for it…and I hope the press is that much stronger for his berating. Sends a chill down my spine to listen to his bs.
In lengthy and at times contradictory remarks on Thursday about the news media — which he deemed “important” and “beautiful,” but also “so bad” and “unfair” — Mr. Trump called himself “a victim” of unfair coverage and declined to accept responsibility for a rise in threats against journalists since he took office.
“I do notice that people are declaring more and more fake news, where they go, ‘Fake news!’” the president said during an Oval Office interview with The New York Times. “I even see it in other countries. I don’t necessarily attribute that to me. I think I can attribute the term to me. I think I was the one that started using it, I would say.”
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When Mr. Sulzberger said foreign leaders were increasingly using the term “fake news” to justify suppressing independent scrutiny, Mr. Trump replied: “I don’t like that. I mean I don’t like that.”
But, in a common pattern whenever the president speaks about the press, Mr. Trump quickly refocused on his personal grievances. “I do think it’s very bad for a country when the news is not accurately portrayed,” he said. “I really do. And I do believe I’m a victim of that, honestly.”
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“We’re seeing leaders of journalistic organizations saying very directly that governments feel like there is a climate of impunity that’s been created,” the publisher said. “You know the United States and the occupants of your office historically have been the greatest defenders of the free press.”“And I think I am, too,” Mr. Trump interjected. “I want to be. I want to be.” He quickly added: “I guess the one thing I do feel, because you look at network coverage, it’s so bad.”