Trump should follow Jefferson’s lead and step back from media lawsuits

President Trump’s recent Oval Office outburst against CNN reporter Kristen Holmes was just another in a long string of Trumpian media confrontations. The president repeatedly ordered Holmes to “be quiet” as she tried to ask him questions during a White House gaggle. Of course, Trump told Holmes that her employer represents “fake news.” 

Trump followed up that clash with a social media outburst against NBC’s Kristen Welker, calling for Welker to be punished by the Federal Communications Commission. Welker claimed Trump’s record on primary endorsements “had some mixed results.” As Trump pointed out, his endorsement scorecard is actually better than “mixed,” but that is beside the point. Welker has First Amendment protection to characterize Trump’s record however she wants, and the FCC knows better than to try to punish a broadcast journalist for editorial commentary, even if it is questionable. 

Deep down, Trump seems convinced the news industry is his enemy, and he has repeatedly made that sentiment known. He distrusts journalists and wants to punish them.  

A case can be made that many news outlets are, indeed, biased against Trump. CNN, The New York Times, and the big three broadcast networks have well-earned the president’s ire. Studies from the Media Research Center, right-leaning as it is, confirm the establishment media’s unbalanced coverage of MAGA and Trump. But again, that is beside the point. The broad constitutional protection of a free press allows news outlets to act........

© The Hill