Will Donald Trump silence the press?
In a recent tweet, he labeled the media as “an enemy of the American people.” This is a strong attack, similar to those sounded by scores of autocrats throughout history, and should not go unchallenged.
A free society requires a free press as part of the checks and balances which keep national affairs transparent. Certainly the press can be tough on presidents: Thomas Jefferson was notoriously critical of the press, as was Richard Nixon during Watergate and Bill Clinton during the Lewinsky scandal.
Trump’s unvarnished and paranoiac dismissal, however, is unprecedented in presidential history, and raises red flags as allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia are investigated. The parallel event of National Security Agency chief Michael Flynn’s resignation could point to a larger story which will be confirmed or put to rest on evidence the press garners.
As Trump ramps up his attacks, our job will be to defend the press, and to carefully differentiate truth from falsehood, a challenge for us all.
It is well within our power to push back, and to insist that the free press proceed unhampered.
Tony Littlejohn
Mancos