Obama officially breaks his silence on Trump’s press ban, as major networks turn up the pressure: ‘I would never have anticipated’
The Republicans wouldn't have handled it well
Over the weekend, many people criticized President Trump’s move to ban CNN, MS Now, and Politico from the White House, arguing that his actions assault First Amendment rights. Prominent among them is former US President Barack Obama, who spoke on the matter on Friday.
At an event at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, Obama spoke about democracy and, in relation, discussed the current state of affairs. He said, “If we don’t get that right, then the mechanics of democracy won’t be enough, as we’ve seen, because we’ve just seen a whole bunch of laws in place that have been blown through in ways I would never have anticipated.”
Then a few moments later, he wondered what would have happened if he, too, took the extreme measures Trump is taking to curb press freedom and control media narratives because he believed they were giving him “unfavorable coverage.” Using Fox News as an example, which is known to be majorly Trump leaning, Obama said, “I’m trying to think what would have happened if I had said, ‘You know what, Fox News, get out of here.’”
As the crowd erupted in applause, Obama said the situation was “unimaginable” before expressing worry about the 30-35 percent of people who believed Trump’s actions were justified. Referring to such people, Obama said that it means that “we have not developed the kind of understanding of what democracy requires.
However, Obama expressed hope, noting that he did not think “all is lost on that front.” He also stressed the power of redemption, stating that “we have to roll up our sleeves and get working.”
Trump’s attacks on the press are nothing new, but he now faces retaliation
President Trump has been known to lash out at certain journalists representing specific media outlets and periodically attack them verbally while they are at work. However, his decision to ban organizations he alleges produce “fake news” marks the final nail in the coffin of his deteriorating relationship with them. While these journalists usually remain quiet when Trump attacks them, following the ethics of their profession, this time they aren’t and are pursuing legal action in hopes of securing justice.
According to Atlanta Black Star, CNN, MS Now, and Politico announced that they were suing the Trump administration over the loss of their White House access. In a joint statement announcing their decision, they said, “This morning, we notified the government that we are filing a lawsuit today to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes.”
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