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On First Full Day as President, Trump Attacks the Press
Trump called reporters "the most dishonest human beings" during speech at CIA headquarters—and later, White House presser hammered the point home
Jan 21, 2017
In a foreboding speech at CIA headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, President Donald Trump attacked press coverage of his inauguration, characterizing reporters as "the most dishonest human beings" and saying that they would "pay."
The president wrongly claimed that the crowd had stretched to the Washington monument, despite photos showing the opposite, and that the press had lied about the size of the event. He repeatedly made these claims despite a multitude of photos that showed a relatively paltry crowd.
Trump also specifically named and condemned Zeke Miller, a reporter for Time, who reported Friday that Trump had removed a bust of Martin Luther King, Jr. from the Oval Office--an error the reporter swiftly acknowledged and corrected. "Zeke, Zeke, Zeke," Trump repeated, falsely claiming that the mistake was never corrected.
Later in the day, White House press secretary Sean Spicer reiterated Trump's earlier attacks on the media:
On Twitter, observers responded to the attacks with fear and outrage:
During Trump's meandering speech to the CIA, in which the president also spent long tangents bragging about the size of his campaign rallies, he also appeared to hint that his administration may loosen restrictions on torture.
"We haven't used the abilities we've got. We've been restrained," Trump said.
Trump also told the intelligence community crowd "I'm so behind you."
Trump attacked the CIA throughout his campaign, and it remains to be seen what relationship the agency will have with the Trump administration.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
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In a foreboding speech at CIA headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, President Donald Trump attacked press coverage of his inauguration, characterizing reporters as "the most dishonest human beings" and saying that they would "pay."
The president wrongly claimed that the crowd had stretched to the Washington monument, despite photos showing the opposite, and that the press had lied about the size of the event. He repeatedly made these claims despite a multitude of photos that showed a relatively paltry crowd.
Trump also specifically named and condemned Zeke Miller, a reporter for Time, who reported Friday that Trump had removed a bust of Martin Luther King, Jr. from the Oval Office--an error the reporter swiftly acknowledged and corrected. "Zeke, Zeke, Zeke," Trump repeated, falsely claiming that the mistake was never corrected.
Later in the day, White House press secretary Sean Spicer reiterated Trump's earlier attacks on the media:
On Twitter, observers responded to the attacks with fear and outrage:
During Trump's meandering speech to the CIA, in which the president also spent long tangents bragging about the size of his campaign rallies, he also appeared to hint that his administration may loosen restrictions on torture.
"We haven't used the abilities we've got. We've been restrained," Trump said.
Trump also told the intelligence community crowd "I'm so behind you."
Trump attacked the CIA throughout his campaign, and it remains to be seen what relationship the agency will have with the Trump administration.
In a foreboding speech at CIA headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, President Donald Trump attacked press coverage of his inauguration, characterizing reporters as "the most dishonest human beings" and saying that they would "pay."
The president wrongly claimed that the crowd had stretched to the Washington monument, despite photos showing the opposite, and that the press had lied about the size of the event. He repeatedly made these claims despite a multitude of photos that showed a relatively paltry crowd.
Trump also specifically named and condemned Zeke Miller, a reporter for Time, who reported Friday that Trump had removed a bust of Martin Luther King, Jr. from the Oval Office--an error the reporter swiftly acknowledged and corrected. "Zeke, Zeke, Zeke," Trump repeated, falsely claiming that the mistake was never corrected.
Later in the day, White House press secretary Sean Spicer reiterated Trump's earlier attacks on the media:
On Twitter, observers responded to the attacks with fear and outrage:
During Trump's meandering speech to the CIA, in which the president also spent long tangents bragging about the size of his campaign rallies, he also appeared to hint that his administration may loosen restrictions on torture.
"We haven't used the abilities we've got. We've been restrained," Trump said.
Trump also told the intelligence community crowd "I'm so behind you."
Trump attacked the CIA throughout his campaign, and it remains to be seen what relationship the agency will have with the Trump administration.
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