With each passing day, the relationship between President Donald Trump and the media worsens. Meanwhile, the president’s actions on Wednesday have shown that little effort will be put forth on his end to better the situation.
Jim Acosta, CNN’s chief White House correspondent, repeatedly questioned Trump that day about comments he made regarding the migrant caravan seeking asylum in the U.S.
Trump immediately took offense and described Acosta as a “rude, terrible person,” according to NBC.
The president told a White House intern to take the microphone out of Acosta’s hand; when she tried to do so, Acosta resisted.
Press Secretary Sarah Sanders later claimed in a statement that Acosta acted inappropriately and put “his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern.” Later, when a video of the incident was released, it became evident that Sanders’ claims were false, and that Acosta never touched the intern.
When Acosta tried to return to the White House later that night, he was denied access and forced to turn in his press pass — all because the president did not like the questions he was being asked.
This incident is only the latest in a string of attacks the president has initiated against media organizations that he has labeled “fake news.”
Trump’s hatred of the media has transferred to his followers, many of whom are conservative Fox News-watchers who dislike CNN, NBC and others for their liberal slants.
In recent months, journalists have been subjected to a newsroom shooting, pipe bombs arriving in their mailboxes and numerous threats from the public.
It is a scary world to live in — one where the truth is labeled as fake because people do not like it, and exaggerating facts is considered normal.
In today’s America, it is impossible to know what is true or false. Trump, by himself, has lied or exaggerated more than 6,000 times since his inauguration, according to the Washington Post.
What is even worse is that the president’s supporters choose to believe him over the media, despite his track record.
Until recently, journalists were accepted as the gatekeepers of truth. If it was not for legendary journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, for instance, Richard Nixon’s involvement with the Watergate scandal may not have been revealed as it was.
What many people do not understand about journalists is the amount of hours that go into getting an accurate and well-written story. Reporters work long hours — including on weekends and holidays — all for the sake of informing the public about what is newsworthy.
Many reputable news organizations have a slight political slant, but are still able to commit to unbiased news reporting. In fact, much of what Trump and the public has declared as “fake news” has never been proven as so.
Sure, journalism does not involve medicine or law. But holding the truth is a powerful thing. It is what unites and destroys people — our president is proof of that.
By shutting journalists out, the president is allowing America to become shut off from the truths of the world.
Journalists are not the enemy of the people, Mr. President. But if you continue to create a vitriolic society, you will make yourself into an enemy.
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