Hundreds of distinguished journalists just teamed up to finally end Trump’s war against the media

Yesterday, the nation was rocked by the horrifying revelation that someone or several someones sent improvised explosives to prominent Democrats including the Clintons and Obamas, as well as to the offices of CNN. By all appearances, it was a terrorist attack targeting outspoken enemies of President Trump.  CNN, in particular, has been one of the most consistent victims of his “fake news” accusations.

After the bombs were found and rendered inert, Trump failed to tackle the issue head-on and refused to take responsibility, choosing instead to offer vague platitudes about his resolve to protect the American people. The attempted bombings also pulled media attention away from the assassination and dismemberment of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the hands of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, another horrifying event which Trump failed to properly address because he didn’t want to jeopardize arms deals or his own financial dealings with the violent theocracy.

Now, the free press, the most embattled pillar of our democracy under the Trump administration, is hitting back at his cowardice. The Hill reports that two hundred journalists, many of them retired or semi-retired, have joined forces to sign a letter condemning Trump for his repeated smears against the media.

It starts by directly confronting the Khashoggi killing as well as the president’s praise for Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-MT) physical assault of journalist Ben Jacobs. The letter accuses Trump of condoning political violence and states that his comments are “part of a sustained pattern of attack on a free press.” The writers then bluntly accuse Trump of failing to carry out his sworn duty to protect the Constitution.

The letter ends with a powerful statement:

“We denounce Donald Trump’s behavior as unconstitutional, un-American and utterly unlawful and unseemly for the President of the United States and leader of the free world.”

The letter is brutal, scathing, and exactly what Trump needs to hear. All Americans must come together to condemn the violence and anti-free speech ideology radiating from the White House.

Our president is too cowardly to do anything about the growing divide in this country, so the responsibility falls to the American people. Hopefully, this brave letter from some of our best and brightest journalists can serve as a guiding light in that endeavor.

Read the letter here.

Original reporting by Avery Anapol.

Natalie Dickinson

Natalie is a staff writer for the Washington Press. She graduated from Oberlin College in 2010 and has been freelance blogging and writing for progressive outlets ever since.