This morning, Trump made a disgusting threat that, quite frankly, it’s surprising he hasn’t chosen to follow through on sooner. Our thin-skinned president took to Twitter to whine about “Fake News” for the umpteenth time, which we all know by now just means honest reporting that paints his incompetency or cruelty in the unflattering light it deserves.
He claimed that 91% of his coverage in the media is negative which, if true, would make sense given what a terrible leader he’s turned out to be, between his administration’s rampant corruption, the constant barrage of abuse and sex scandals, and its outright destructive policies.
Trump mused that since the news agencies are “corrupt” he may have to take away their credentials, presumably only allowing access to his personal propaganda machine Fox News and the far-right fringe publications that run fawning coverage of him. In the process, he’d be denying Americans their right to hold their leaders accountable. It’s an indefensible idea that shows how deeply his un-American authoritarian streak really runs.
The Fake News is working overtime. Just reported that, despite the tremendous success we are having with the economy & all things else, 91% of the Network News about me is negative (Fake). Why do we work so hard in working with the media when it is corrupt? Take away credentials?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 9, 2018
Now, it appears Trump’s tweet is receiving the backlash it deserves – and from a surprising corner. Matt Drudge, the right-wing mastermind behind the online conservative news site The Drudge Report took to Twitter to say that he fears the implications of Trump’s “crusade on ‘fake news,’ and postulates that it could lead to the licensing of all reporters. Presumably, this, in turn, would allow the White House to muzzle dissent and prevent honest journalism,
Since it’s Drudge, he also had to get in a disingenuous dig at Democrats before stating that the “mop up” of the mess Trump will make if he goes through on this plan will be “excruciating.” While Drudge is wrong about most things, most of the time, he is certainly correct here. Trump is making an absolute mess of our democratic norms, and it’s going to take a very long time and a lot of work to clean it up.
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I fear the future result of Trump’s crusade on ‘fake news’ will be licensing of all reporters. [Dems already floated this in the senate pre-Trump.] The mop up on this issue is going to be excruciating…
— MATT DRUDGE (@DRUDGE) May 9, 2018
Not surprisingly, many of Trump’s brainwashed supporters pounced on Drudge in support of their glorious leader.
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Its these news agencies claiming to have credible 'anonymous' sources but then only spewing out obstruction towards @POTUS #MAGA
— Roger That (@RogerThatB17) May 9, 2018
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Have no fear – Trump's just trying to change the zeitgeist, which only means waking people up to the stranglehold of the MSM on "shaping" (manipulating) the "common consensus."
— Dante (@lugubricator) May 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/Kaladious/status/994237399948406788
What happened to you WTH is this
— Brian Husted (@bhusted124) May 9, 2018
I don't even bother with @DRUDGE_REPORT They are way behind and are leaning to the establishment. Not interested.
— #JustTheTweets (@Texastrue11) May 9, 2018
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