In a fiery series of social media posts, former President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to media organizations he deems “corrupt and dishonest.” Trump’s message, posted on his TruthSocial account, sent shockwaves through the media landscape, sparking debates over freedom of the press and presidential power.
Trump Drops Bombshell Accusations Against Major Media Outlets!
In his posts, Trump singled out media giants like NBC News and MSNBC, accusing them of spreading false information and undermining the Country.
He asserted that these media companies “should be investigated for its ‘Country Threatening Treason'” and questioned whether they should have “free” access to U.S. airwaves.
“The Enemy of the People”?
Trump, who has never minced words when it comes to his criticisms of the media, stated unequivocally, “They are almost all dishonest and corrupt, but Comcast, with its one-sided and vicious coverage by NBC NEWS, and in particular MSNBC, often and correctly referred to as MSDNC (Democrat National Committee!), should be investigated for its ‘Country Threatening Treason.”
Trump vs. “Fake News” Networks!
Trump didn’t stop there, making his intentions clear: “I say upfront, openly, and proudly that when I WIN the Presidency of the United States…the LameStream Media will be thoroughly scrutinized for their knowingly dishonest and corrupt coverage of people, things, and events. They are a true threat to Democracy and are, in fact, THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE! The Fake News Media should pay a big price for what they have done to our once great Country!”
This is not the first time Trump has targeted news organizations he disagrees with. Trump previously suggested challenging the licenses of networks he considered “fake news” in 2017 after NBC published an unflattering report about him.
First Amendment Safeguards Freedom of the Press
At that time, he expressed frustration that “the press is able to write whatever it wants to write.”
However, the First Amendment safeguards the freedom of the press.
While the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licenses individual stations rather than entire networks like NBC, local community members and competitors can dispute license renewals for network-affiliated stations.
Advocacy Group Requests License Denial
This process was brought to the forefront in July when an advocacy group requested that the FCC deny a license renewal for Philadelphia station WTXF-TV.
They accused it of airing “false information about election fraud” and contributing to the events of January 6 at the U.S. Capitol. In a rare move, the FCC invited public comment on the matter while reviewing the request.
Public Outcry
While NBC has not officially responded to Trump’s threats, as expected, they have ignited a firestorm of criticism in media and political circles.
Political commentator Charlie Sykes highlighted the recent developments, saying, “Let’s just think about the last three days where we’re at here. Donald Trump mocked a disabled veteran, called for the execution of Gen. Mark Milley, has called for the complete shutdown of the government unless they defund the prosecutions against him.”
“Deranged Rant”
He expressed concern about Trump’s intentions to use government power to retaliate against critical media.
The progressive political organization Occupy Democrats also condemned Trump’s social media posts as a “deranged rant,” accusing him of attempting to “completely remove entire news channels from the airwaves simply because they expose his rampant criminality.”
The White House Fires Back
In response to these developments, President Biden’s White House issued a statement reaffirming the importance of freedom of the press and warning against any abuse of presidential power.
“To abuse presidential power and violate the Constitutional rights of reporters would be an outrageous attack on our democracy and the rule of law,” a White House spokesperson declared.
With these strong words and the intensifying political landscape, Trump’s ongoing clash with critical media outlets remains a contentious issue, promising to shape the narrative of the upcoming election and beyond.
The post “THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE” – If Re-Elected Trump Promises to Target the Critical Free Press – Forgetting the First Amendment? first appeared on The Net Worth Of.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Joe Seer
Source: HuffPost