Donald Trump Met Privately With Network Executives And Anchors
This article discusses how president elect Donald Trump has placed "unprecedented constraints" on how the press will work during his presidency, likely similar to those he placed on the press during his campaign. The exact conversation was off the record, so no journalists could report exact quotes of what happened, but the article basically discusses how strange it is that a president who hasn't even been inaugurated yet is already meeting "both network bosses and top on-air talent", when it was revealed that Mr. Trump hasn't even held a press conference since the summer.
Trump, as we've discussed in these blogs, has been called the next Hitler, a dictator, and all sorts of things. Do you think this idea of limiting the press contributes to that idea? Furthermore, is Mr. Trump even allowed, by law, to limit people. We live in the United States of America, where free speech is listed in our first ammendment. If people are so up in arms (no pun intended) already about gun rights possibly being altered, how do you supposse they'll react to possibly limited speech/even more limited information?
I think that it is a shame that Trump plans to keep the press's access to him severely limited. According to the article, he has not held a new conference since July. In a relatively representative society like ours, it is important for the public to be sufficiently aware of their president's plans and activities. I think Trump's limiting of the press does contribute, to some extent, of the idea of him not representing all people. Technically, the president is allowed to be quite private, but in tradition he stays in contact with the press. People are sure to be upset by the lack of information provided to them, and it will fan frustrations among people who view Trump unfavorably. The lack of information may lead to continued proliferation of "fake news," which is a huge problem for a free society.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Trump is trying to limit the press is terrifying. He, and his fans, had serious issues with the press throughout his campaign. His hatred of the press is nearly one of his only things he’s continued to believe and carry through with since becoming the President-elect. Trump has broken countless precedents since starting his transition process, none of which bring me hope. The free media is one of the things that make American truly great. It can be difficult at times to find unbiased sources, but it is vital that our media be free. Trying to restrict what citizens see will make us fearful of the presidency.
ReplyDeleteI’ve noticed that many of the people that get upset over possible restrictions of gun laws are also the people that detest the media, saying it spews lies and whatnot. I’m not sure how these “ultra gun right” believing folks would react to possibility of the media and freedom of speech being censored. But, I think that if Trump wanted restriction on the first amendment and gave a “good reason” his supporters would be okay with it.
I don't want to start any conspiracy theories or anything of the like, but I can't help but feel uncomfortable at Trump's handling of the media. If his words were to only interact with the media less than before, in potential hopes of avoiding controversy or being able to focus on work more, then I wouldn't see this as a problem. But after reading the article, in which the meetings were kept closed and had what was described as a hostile air about them with rumors of Trump calling out the heads of various networks like CNN as "liars". This seems like it could be made up, but if it is true, then it brings serious questions on how the media will function with Trump as president, and whether our first amendment rights are going to be respected or manipulated as a result of this. I personally hope this blows over and is an overexaggeration of what really went on, but with a person as unpredictable and volatile as Trump, I am quite scared to see if his demeanor hasn't changed.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe he can "place restraints" on the media. Sure he can whine and complain about what they are publishing and attempt to discredit their news, but he can't stop it. And if he does manage to stop it, well then we have serious issues with the way our Constitution is being upheld. I do not, however, see this as contributing to the idea of a "Trump-Hitler" as Hitler was all over the press; advertising and propaganda specifically were key to Hitler's rise to power, so Trump being at odds with the press does not support a Hitler-like rise to power. However, it is alarming that he is trying so vehemently to oppress one of our basic Constitutional rights; I just hope he doesn't find a means of actually following through with this one.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most concerning things about both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton during the campaign was their disdain for the press. We all know how Trump acted, calling the press names like "the most dishonest people ever" and revoking the access of various outlets, all while ironically saving billions of dollars by getting free air time from news outlets. Clinton spent 269 days without giving a press conference, but did not criticize the free press like Trump. While it is hard to tell what Trump will actually do when he is in office, the fact that he advocated strongly for strict libel laws against the press while on the campaign trail is very disturbing. This policy position indicates that he would actually like to see the press's freedom limited. The meeting last week was very unusual, but I highly doubt that he would actually be able to limit the free press. His libel laws would be found unconstitutional if they were to pass.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Trump plans on constraining the press in his presidency is not right. The people deserve to know of his doings in office, as he is the face of the people, not a separate entity of the people, or at least as he ran his campaign on being. Therefore, he deserves to be held accountable by the people, through the media. Throughout his campaign he has delegitimized the media to his followers for their coverage of him, despite the fact that the only reason they could report on him was because he gave them things to report on. It is concerning that he wants to be free of the press and their accountability, and it reminds me of Lügenpresse, or the lying press, which was a term that was used frequently in Nazi Germany, which even furthers the Hitler comparisons made with Trump. His attempts at the restriction of freedom of the press and to make himself separate from reporting is both unconstitutional and cause for concern in terms of his potential actions that could go undocumented.
ReplyDeleteHe does know that he doesn't have to tell the press about his favorite stuffed animal or what kind of secret product he uses in his hair, right? My dearest Trump, for a man who seems to keep all of your tax records a secret, I assumed that you'd know that you can keep other things secret too. Joking aside, this is obviously unconstitutional. If he doesn't want certain things spewed out in black and white for the public to see then he ought to learn how to keep his mouth shut. The press has every right to print anything he says to them and he shouldn't be allowed to constrain them. However, I really do hope that they print the truth as I, as well as many other, am tired of all of the fake "news" stories. Trump should start making his views clear and decide what he will present to our country and what he will hold onto before it comes flying out of his mouth like everything else. I doubt he'll learn to filter himself, but did anyone really think he would?
ReplyDeleteThere has obviously been tension between Trump and the media since the beginning of the campaign about the coverage he was receiving with he interpreted as biased and fraudulent. Since Trump's victory, which went unpredicted by many of the polls these news outlets showed, it makes sense the tension between the President-elect and the media would develop further. I highly doubt a kind of censorship is Trump's goal, but I agree it's odd for these meeting to be taking place between Trump and network executives. Really, Trump, who's not even sworn in, should lay low and try to distance himself from the media as much as possible and avoid the suspicion that he's restricting the freedom of the press.
ReplyDeleteAs we have recently learned, a President's popularity among the public have a significant effect on Congress's eagerness to pass his legislation. If the President can control the press, he can control the public's opinion of him - kind of like what Kim Jong Un does. The press prides itself on honest journalism, or at least it should, but if federal intervention inhibits their ability to report back to the public honestly and candidly, what access do we have to information we know to be true? Kind of scary... But America wouldn't let that happen, right?
ReplyDeleteThis idea falls in line with Trump hating any backlash against him. After Mike Pence was booed at Hamilton and the cast gave a speech directed at him at the end of the show in good taste, Trump went back and used his Twitter fingers to show his own distaste at the cast and audience. Trump hates anyone and anything who opposes him and his reign, which could be the reason he is meeting with the press so early on. Maybe he is trying to restrict the information they post about him, or maybe something totally different. If articles praising Trump start being published though, then we will have our answer.
ReplyDeletePerhaps, if the press stops teasing him--although it is very amusing--he would be more willing to speak to them. However, he has gotten himself into the most public postion in the country and he is going to have to learn to accept the criticism that comes with it. If the press could just give us straight fact and stop creating little bubbles for liberals and conservatives to hide away in to avoid other opinions, we could all try forming our own opinions. Furthermore, there has to be one reporter or newspaper or news organization who will be so disgusted by this that they will make sure he won't get away with anything too fishy. Even if he tries to stop everyone from saying certain stuff, the press can say whatever they want and if that means losing access to him then they can write about how wrong that is for the next four years and make him look like even more of a baby.
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ReplyDeleteTrump can complain and roast the media in his tweets, but he cannot stop the media from doing their job. People are entitled to know what the president is doing, and the information will get revealed sooner or later. For example, Dubya's excessive use of signing statements went unnoticed by many until it was revealed in the Pulitzer Prize winning article. However, this article took many years to come out, and I certainly hope that information regarding Trump's actions come out immediately. If Trump managed to limit the press, it would be unconstitutional, and it would be everyone's job to fit it. Although I understand that he has gotten made fun of very often, he cannot determine what people can or can't say.
ReplyDeleteOh, Donny. I mean, this isn't surprising. From the very beginning of this campaign, Trump has run against the "haters and losers" and people have loved it. The media is close to the top of the list of haters and losers. His adversarial relationship with McKay Coppins and Katy Tur have been constants of the campaign, and it's a truly terrifying idea that he would continue that awful relationship. I think Donald should stick to his party's motto of the government that governs least governs best. He needs to govern less. A lot less. Like don't even go to office.
ReplyDeleteWell this isn't at all surprising as pretty much everything Trump does has been unprecedented. Of course he shouldn't restrict what the press can say, that would violate the first amendment, but I don't see how there's anything wrong with Trump limiting his interactions with the press as long as he does it respectfully and legally. Also, there is something to be said about how much the press teases Trump. Obviously it's extremely easy, and they are allowed to make fun of him as they are allowed to make fun of whomever they please. However, he is the future president of the United States of America, and that warrants some degree of respect even if it is Donald Trump. I would like to think that if the press is more respectful, then hopefully Trump would be more respectful as well.
ReplyDeleteFreedom of speech is what this country is founded on. To see Trump already trying to restrict that by telling reporters not to ask certain questions, particularly difficult ones for him to answer, is sad. But I can definitely see push back from the Media Elites. A President Trump is a direct threat to them, especially with Trump trying to discredit them. So I would not be surprised if more and more networks start turning on Trump, maybe even Fox.
ReplyDeleteMore and more, it feels like we're in an alternate version of "1984", but somewhere before the beginning of the story, where there are still intellectuals asking "why is this a happening, this isn't right". Certainly, Trump couldn't regulate everything that comes off the presses (I hope). Yet there are times where it seems like he's purposefully acting and releasing information to the media (both left and right) to get reactions. Whether this is an extremely intelligent play or he's a five year old in a orange man's body (or both), only he knows.
ReplyDeleteAnd no, this won't get any reaction out of most of his supporters. The ones that voted for him solely for his immigration policies, or just to go against Hilary, or who seek a change that will "shake the country", might be. But his loyal, gun-toting fanbase? Unlikely.