Amid the Trump wreckage, the free press survives

If having presidents make life difficult for the news media could destroy First Amendment protections, the free press would have ceased operation countless times over the course of American history.

Pretty much every president has battled the press, including founding fathers John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Abraham Lincoln saved the union, but was ruthless in stifling journalists and editors. Woodrow Wilson treated the press just as badly. Harry Truman’s “give ‘em hell” approach certainly applied to the press, calling reporters “prostitutes of the mind.” Barack Obama surveilled a number of journalists, including reporters from the AP, The New York Times, CBS and FNC. 

Despite many challenges, the free press has survived. The press has continued to abide by its constitutional functions, just as the framers intended. The American free press will survive now and for decades to come.  

Today’s press acts as a watchdog as intended, hassling the current occupant of the White House, who in turn is carrying on the presidential tradition of barking back at the watchdog. But to hear the persistent shrill cries and howls of journalists, you’d think Donald Trump had taken a wrecking ball to the First Amendment.   

Trump does certainly loathe the establishment press, and seldom misses an opportunity to scold and berate journalists. He recently insulted a Reuters reporter about his physical condition after the reporter asked about the president’s travel schedule. And he has sought to restrict politically unfriendly media outlets such as CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House press facilities.  

Trump also likes to sue the press for defamation, surely........

© The Hill