A Pattern Emerges
Donald Trump’s administration frequently applies the “fake news” label to any news outlet that doesn’t toe the party line. Trump tweeted the phrase “fake news” at least 14 times this month so far and silenced reporters at press conferences in a similar fashion.
Isaiah Breen, the press secretary for Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), noticed an alarming pattern in Donald Trump’s plan to discredit the media. In a tweet posted on Friday, Breen broke down Trump’s process stating:
https://twitter.com/isikbreen/status/832620473645101056
This pattern can be seen in AP’s recent story on the Trump administration’s use of the National Guard to round up illegal aliens:
BREAKING: Trump administration considers mobilizing as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants.
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 17, 2017
Prior to publishing the article, the AP asked the White House for a comment. They received no response.
After publishing the article, Trump Press Secretary Sean Spicer denied everything and retweeted the AP story, saying that it is “not true” and “100% false.”
This is not true. DHS also confirms it is 100% false https://t.co/MFIJci7XaU
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) February 17, 2017
Spicer failed to mention that the AP (or any other news outlet) requested a comment on the subject.
Consequently, the AP tweeted proof in the form of an official memo on the subject.
The Trump administration's draft memo on using National Guard troops for immigration roundups. https://t.co/94nGIcsT7E
— The Associated Press (@AP) February 17, 2017
Olivia Nuzzi of New York Magazine really hits the nail on the head in her tweet regarding the AP report.
Not answering the AP but then responding to the AP report by saying it's wrong seems like a good way to perpetuate a fake news narrative.
— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) February 17, 2017
The Dangers Of A Discredited Press
The media’s purpose is to hold the government accountable and keep the public aware. Otherwise, citizens only receive information the government wants us to hear. While it may be extreme, this is exactly what Trump supporters seem to be hoping for. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.) stated:
“Better to get your news directly from the president. In fact, it might be the only way to get the unvarnished truth.”
Above all, American citizens need to be wary when the propaganda becomes “anything negative is fake.” America is built on freedom of the press and freedom from tyranny. Thomas Jefferson once stated:
“The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. But I should mean that every man should receive those papers and be capable of reading them.”
Featured image via Forward.