Donald Trump wants to punish anyone who doesn’t like

Donald Trump is aggressively increasing his pressure campaign in the media that he does not approve.

“I told Rupert Murdoch that it was a scam, that I shouldn’t print this false story,” Trump, Trump aware in Social truththe application of social networks it possesses. “But he did, and now I’m going to sue his butt, and that of his third rate newspaper.”

“Mr. Murdoch declared that he would take care of that but, obviously, he did not have the power to do it,” Trump, Trump wrote In another publication.

The story in question reported that Trump apparently had He sent a raw letter to Epstein on his 50th birthday in which he alluded to the things that the two men had in common and included the phrase, “that every day are another wonderful secret.” When the newspaper did not kill history as Trump had asked, the president filed a demand for defamation stating that history would cause it “overwhelming financial and reputation damage ”and demanding $ 10 billion in compensation.

Not even Murdoch, whose media empire (including News) has been of great political benefit for Trump, is safe. He, together with the Journal and the reporters who worked in history, were appointed in the demand.

It is no secret that the president is notoriously of thin skin and cannot even handle mild criticisms, nor does it hide that it is particularly Happy litigation – Trump has presented for a long time demandsincluding spurious some, against negative media coverage. But this time is different.

“It is not preceded that a fun president present a lawsuit against a writing room,” said Tim Richardson, the manager of the journalism and misinformation program in Pen America, an organization that advocates the rights of freedom of expression.

If Trump can control the media, it will be free to promulgate the policies you want, without anyone responsible for the damage they can do. Everything is part of their effort to control what Americans can say, thinkor commit to.

“Trump is doing a tantrum and saying that if he shouted strong enough, perhaps the people who criticize me will leave,” Peter Logo, a media professor and public issues at George Washington, told News themezone. “But if you don’t want them to shout you about what you think, don’t be president of the United States.”

Due to the first amendment, it is an American law standard that people have the right to talk and criticize your governmentand that includes news publications. In addition, public figures have a highest bar to clear That a normal person when it comes to claiming defamation, or that a story or criticism damages them. It is understood, and the courts have supported, that if it is in public life, The public has an interest in their actionseven if they are not flattering.

Well, it is understood, except apparently by Trump himself.

“Basically, Trump is saying, if you say something that I don’t like, I’m going to punish you,” Jenna Leventoff, senior policy advisor to the American Union of Civil Liberties, told News themezone.

In fact, it is something that Trump has been telling other institutions for a long time. Since January, Trump has signed executive orders that threaten large law firms That they have defended the problems they do not like, the hamstrings of their ability to bring legal challenges against their administration. The president demanded that companies provide pro-bone services, and many, although not all, of them capitulated.

The screws to schools and universities have also changed, Traditionally sites of political protest and civil disobedience. Through executive orders and policy demands, he has pressed to place higher education to political law: prioritize the registration of conservative inclination students, hire teachers who support Trump and demanding that they finish the programs that focus on race and justice. If universities do not adhere to Trump’s agenda, threatens them with the loss of federal funds.

Trump’s war with the press is a remnant of his first administration, and picked it up almost immediately after returning to the White House. In this administration, it has begun to openly use threats and the power of the federal government to exert pressure on its critics.

“The tactics that have been used have been rated by what we saw [during his first term]”Richardson said.

But Trump has used the movement since then. After the Wall Street Journal published its story about Epstein’s birthday card, Trump blocked a WSJ reporter for the coverage of official events. The White House had also previously blocked a News themezone reporter of the group of journalists who covered the president, although the reporter, SV Date, was reinstalled later.

Brendan Carr, the president of the FCC, said it was because the station reported on the live location of the trucks of federal immigration officers. The radio station, Carr said, needed to “explain how this could be consistent with its public interest obligations.”

“Each elected official complains that the press is unfair,” Loge said. “The difference with this administration is that Trump is actively trying to threaten and close the free press.”

Francis Chung/Politic/Bloomberg through Getty Images

Trump began a dispute with News when he falsely accused the “deceptively” editing network An “60 minutes” interview with Harris during the 2024 presidential race to “tip the balance” in his favor. Trump filed a lawsuit against Paramount, owner of News. The company said the interview was simply edited for time, which is typical, instead of manipulating. Even so, supreme I liquidated for $ 16 million.

After Paramount agreed The settlement, Stephen Colbert, the host of the “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in News, ridiculed the company’s decision to genoue before the president, calling the agreement a “”Large bribery.”

Paramount was in the middle of an upcoming fusion with Skydance Media, for which he needed the approval of the FCC.

Colbert, a critic for a long time of the right wing in general and Trump in particular, even seemed to recognize that the jokes put a goal in the back.

“Some of the television tiputas are blogging that once Skydance gets News, the desire of the new owners to please Trump could” press the night host and the frequent critic of Trump Stephen Colbert, “said the host, citing a Puck News article.” It’s fine, it’s fine, but how are you going to press Stephen Colbert … If you can’t find it? ” joined.

Three days after Colbert dismissed the agreement, News announced that he was canceling his program. Executives emphasized that it was a purely financial decision. Trump, however, took a victory.

“I love Colbert,” Trump said Tuesday in a Social truth mail. He also alluded to other night hosts that make fun of him. “It’s really good to see them leave, and I hope I have played an important role in it!”

“Trump’s goal is to have a chilling effect,” said Leventoff. Defenders worry That if you are able to threaten and punish the media, companies and universities without repercussions, it will send a signal to other institutions that fight is not worth it.

They are not just those that examine Trump’s policies that are subject to intimidation.

In Wednesday’s episode of the Diurnal Interview Program “The View”, Coanfrerion Joy Behar discussed Trump’s regular attempts to return criticism to former President Barack Obama. “Of what [Trump] Is Obama so jealous? Because Obama is all he is not: cut, intelligent, handsome, happily married and can sing the song by Al Green ‘Let’s Stay Together’ Better Than al Green “, Behar said. “And Trump can’t stand it. He’s driving him crazy.”

Behar “should reflect self -plect with his own jealousy of President Trump’s historical popularity before his show is the next to be taken out of the air,” the Reading White Declaration.

“This is intimidation,” said Richardson. “Opinion is not standard news, but everything follows the same line of thought. If there are criticism or dissent, wants to cancel it.”

In both countries, taking energetic measures against press freedom is routine. In Russia, journalists have been arrested for negative coverage of the government and Dozens of reporters have been killed. Orbán’s extreme right party has proposed laws that would penalize groups that receive foreign donations, including journalism outlets. He has been accused of gratifying Middle communication with government subsidies.

“These are certainly tactical that have been used in other countries to Bosque the press,” Richardson said.

In an environment of complaint, even questionable situations can contribute to feeling that dissent is running the risk of punishment.

“People agree with Trump because they are too afraid to oppose him,” Loge said.

When the approval of the fusion Paramount, Anna Gómez, the only Democrat in the FCC, was announced, launched the decision.

“The primary payment and this reckless approval have emboldened those who believe that the government can, and should abuse their power to extract financial and ideological concessions, demand the favored treatment, and ensure positive means coverage,” he said.

“It is a dark chapter in a long and growing register of abuse that threatens the freedom of the press in this country. But such violations last only when institutions choose capitulation about courage. It is time for companies, journalists and citizens to stand up and talk, because power without deciding and unquestionable does not have a legitimate place in the United States.”

The media capitulations will only damage the rights of freedom of expression and will be emboldened to Trump. “It is establishing a dangerous precedent,” Richardson said. “And it’s hard to say where this ends.”