Trump has attacked the press for three years, but after the Capital Gazette shooting, he said journalists should not be attacked.
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Trump said, “Before going any further, I’d like to address the horrific shooting that took place yesterday at Capital Gazette newsroom in Annapolis, Maryland. This attack shocked the conscience of our nation and filled our hearts with grief. Journalists, like all Americans, should be free from the fear of being violently attacked while doing their job. To the families of the victims, there are no words to express our sorrow for your loss. Horrible, horrible event, horrible thing happened. When you’re suffering, we pledge our eternal support. The suffering is so great. I’ve seen some of the people, so great. My government will not rest until we have done everything in our power to reduce violent crime and to protect innocent we will not ever leave your side.”
What Trump said was different from Kellyanne Conway was saying on Fox News just a few hours earlier.
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Trump can prove that he is serious about journalists not being attacked for doing their jobs by starting with himself. He can stop attacking journalists on Twitter and at his rallies, but we all know that by tomorrow morning, Trump will be back to attacking journalists for doing their jobs. The only reason why Trump made this statement is that he is afraid that his hate-filled attacks on journalists and journalism are going to blow back on him.
This president doesn’t respect journalists or journalism. His actions over the past three years speak louder than any words he might say to distance himself from a mass shooting.
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Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
