# Does Trump want to undermine the role of the press? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 19, 2018, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796 "2018-11-19T15:21:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2018, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796/201 "2018-11-25T21:13:48Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > My position hasn’t changed. Only your interpretation of it has. Better luck next time. > > It certainly was embarrassing for Acosta, not that he would notice. Did you happen to see the other reporters in the original video who had raised their hand in the hope that the President would call on them? All of the reporters in the room were hoping that they would get an opportunity to ask their question. Acosta continued to act as if he was the most important person in the room, which he wasn’t. Acosta was going to physically defend his self-imposed right to keep that microphone. Your constant dwelling on this one isolated incident notwithstanding, do you have anything to say [this long list of attacks on the free press?](https://www.mediamatters.org/trumps-war-on-the-press) ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2018, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796/202 "2018-11-25T21:30:53Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What allotted time? You do know that the Prez can take as much time as he wants to hold these press conferences, right? There is no legal reason for him to run off like a frightened child whenever the going gets tough. “No legal reason”? Yes, “allotted time”. The POTUS is a busy person. He has a busy schedule. Meet with Senator A from 10:00 to 10:10. Meet with Congresswoman B from 10:10 to 10:30. Call the President of Turkey from 10:30 to 10:40. Meet with Governor C from 10:45 to 10:55. Attend press conference from 13:00 to 13:30. Receive call from President of Mexico from at 13:40. etc., etc., etc… Busy, busy, busy. Nobody is waiting around to hear what an asshole like Acosta has to say, except maybe the folks at CNNSUX. If the President wishes to extend, or cancel, scheduled events that’s pretty much up to him. All of the reporters attending the press conference where Acosta chose to hold court knew that their time with the President was limited. They knew that there would only be time for so many questions, and then the event would be over. They would then have to explain to their editor/boss why they didn’t do the job they were sent there to do. (FYI, their job would be to ask a question.) ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2018, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796/203 "2018-11-25T21:40:29Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Your constant dwelling on this one isolated incident notwithstanding, do you have anything to say [this long list of attcks on the free press?](https://www.mediamatters.org/trumps-war-on-the-press) Trump is a counter-puncher. He was a counter-puncher as a candidate, and continued to be a counter-puncher after he was elected President. The mostly Democrat-leaning media is still pissed that ol’ Hillary failed in her 2nd attempt to become President. They’re also pissed that Trump doesn’t think these reporters are as important as the reporters themselves think they are. Regardless, the sun will still rise in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2018, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796/204 "2018-11-25T21:46:13Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Trump is a counter-puncher. He was a counter-puncher as a candidate, and continued to be a counter-puncher after he was elected President. The mostly Democrat-leaning media is still pissed that ol’ Hillary failed in her 2nd attempt to become President. They’re also pissed that Trump doesn’t think these reporters are as important as the reporters themselves think they are. Regardless, the sun will still rise in the morning. He’s a _down_-puncher, not a counter-puncher. He’s never stood up to an equal rival in his life. He’s even too cowardly to fire people. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2018, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796/205 "2018-11-25T21:53:45Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Trump is a counter-puncher. He was a counter-puncher as a candidate, and continued to be a counter-puncher after he was elected President. The mostly Democrat-leaning media is still pissed that ol’ Hillary failed in her 2nd attempt to become President. They’re also pissed that Trump doesn’t think these reporters are as important as the reporters themselves think they are. Regardless, the sun will still rise in the morning. The White House thanks you for spreading their talking points almost word-for-word. Great job! They’re even happier that you’re doing it for free! ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2018, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796/206 "2018-11-25T21:53:47Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > “No legal reason”? Yes, “allotted time”. The POTUS is a busy person. He has a busy schedule. Meet with Senator A from 10:00 to 10:10. Meet with Congresswoman B from 10:10 to 10:30. Call the President of Turkey from 10:30 to 10:40. Meet with Governor C from 10:45 to 10:55. Attend press conference from 13:00 to 13:30. Receive call from President of Mexico from at 13:40. etc., etc., etc… Busy, busy, busy. Then how the fuck does he spend all that time watching TV and playing golf? ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2018, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796/207 "2018-11-25T21:57:17Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Then how the fuck does he spend all that time watching TV and playing golf? And tweeting. Mustn’t forget the tweeting. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2018, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796/208 "2018-11-25T21:58:21Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > “No legal reason”? Yes, “allotted time”. The POTUS is a busy person. He has a busy schedule. Meet with Senator A from 10:00 to 10:10. Meet with Congresswoman B from 10:10 to 10:30. Call the President of Turkey from 10:30 to 10:40. Meet with Governor C from 10:45 to 10:55. Attend press conference from 13:00 to 13:30. Receive call from President of Mexico from at 13:40. etc., etc., etc… Busy, busy, busy. Nobody is waiting around to hear what an asshole like Acosta has to say, except maybe the folks at CNNSUX. > > If the President wishes to extend, or cancel, scheduled events that’s pretty much up to him. All of the reporters attending the press conference where Acosta chose to hold court knew that their time with the President was limited. They knew that there would only be time for so many questions, and then the event would be over. They would then have to explain to their editor/boss why they didn’t do the job they were sent there to do. (FYI, their job would be to ask a question.) Except, you know, that POTUS had absolutely nothing on his calendar after the press conference on November 7. The only other thing on his calendar that day was something called ‘In-Town Pool Call Time’ at 10:00 am. Then the press conference at 11:30 am. Then nothing until the next day. Nothing on his calendar would indicate a ‘hard stop’ for the press conference. Busy, busy, busy, indeed. [https://factba.se/topic/calendar](https://factba.se/topic/calendar) ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796/209 "2018-11-25T22:06:41Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > My position hasn’t changed. Only your interpretation of it has. Better luck next time. > > It certainly was embarrassing for Acosta, not that he would notice. Did you happen to see the other reporters in the original video who had raised their hand in the hope that the President would call on them? All of the reporters in the room were hoping that they would get an opportunity to ask their question. Acosta continued to act as if he was the most important person in the room, which he wasn’t. Acosta was going to physically defend his self-imposed right to keep that microphone. Can you name a single member of the press core who expressed concern Acosta had taken too much time in relation to this incident? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2018, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796/210 "2018-11-25T22:33:11Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Your constant dwelling on this one isolated incident notwithstanding, do you have anything to say [this long list of attacks on the free press?](https://www.mediamatters.org/trumps-war-on-the-press) These are not attacks on a “free press.” They are attacks on the current press. There is nothing at all wrong with that; it is a part of the give and take of the political process. They criticize him, he criticizes them. When he imprisons them or has them lined up against a wall, then we will talk. ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2018, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796/211 "2018-11-26T00:38:18Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > These are not attacks on a “free press.” The issue does not not involve offering principled criticism of the press. In behavior that is unprecedented among US presidents, he characterizes journalists as enemies of the people, as repugnant liars (with bad ratings! Sad!). That kind of dramatic hyperbole isn’t what I would expect in a “he criticizes them, they criticize him, it’s all good, what’s the problem?” scenario. > [@](#): > > When he imprisons them or has them lined up against a wall, then we will talk. So when he acts like he wouldn’t mind taking action against the press he shouldn’t be criticized, and it’s only when agents are actively rounding up journalists that anyone should be alarmed? By then it’ll be too late. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2018, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796/212 "2018-11-26T01:42:41Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > These are not attacks on a “free press.” They are attacks on the current press. There is nothing at all wrong with that; it is a part of the give and take of the political process. They criticize him, he criticizes them. When he imprisons them or has them lined up against a wall, then we will talk. If it goes that far it is pretty much too far gone to just talk. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2018, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796/213 "2018-11-26T07:10:19Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > “No legal reason”? Yes, “allotted time”. The POTUS is a busy person. He has a busy schedule. Meet with Senator A from 10:00 to 10:10. Meet with Congresswoman B from 10:10 to . . . . You really believe that? The guy is a lazy lard-ass who does a little as possible, and everyone knows it. > [@doorhinge](#): > > Trump is a counter-puncher. He was a counter-puncher as a candidate . . . You buy that bullshit shtick too? Really? He’s a fucking troll, pure and simple–throwing temper tantrums to get attention. However, this troll is also the moderator–which might explain Acosta’s actions, though it just ends up feeding the troll. ---
**Author:** ![yendis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ed8c4c/32.png) [@yendis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yendis)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2018, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796/214 "2018-11-26T12:52:26Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > The White House thanks you for spreading their talking points almost word-for-word. Great job! They’re even happier that you’re doing it for free! But would be happiest if he paid for the Bigliest Trump Supporter pack. Only $9.99 per week and all the copy & paste talking points you can click your mouse on. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796/215 "2018-11-28T02:22:17Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > Can you name a single member of the press core who expressed concern Acosta had taken too much time in relation to this incident? Who knows their names? They’re all interchangeable. I would say that every reporter shown in the original video who was holding their hand in the air during Acosta’s grandstanding wanted Acosta to sit down, and shut up. Time’s a-wasting. Questions aren’t going to ask themselves, ya know. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796/216 "2018-11-28T02:31:36Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Your constant dwelling on this one isolated incident notwithstanding, do you have anything to say [this long list of attacks on the free press?](https://www.mediamatters.org/trumps-war-on-the-press) You forgot to mention the media attacks on Trump. Trump is a counter-puncher. The lame stream media and Trump have had an adversarial relationship since Trump was a candidate. The LSM doesn’t like it when it’s target/victim doesn’t give them as much respect as they themselves think they deserve. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796/217 "2018-11-28T02:33:12Z")
(Post Shortered) > [@doorhinge](#): > > …Questions aren’t going to ask themselves, ya know. And Trump sure as shit ain’t gonna answer them, honestly. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796/218 "2018-11-28T02:59:06Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Who knows their names? I didn’t ask you to name all of them. I asked you to name a single member of the press corp who expressed concern about Acosta taking to much of the time at that press conference. You want to champion some cause for some fantasy press corp who was being oppressed by Acosta’s grandstanding. You are just making shit up to defend Trump. The fact of the matter is numerous press agencies expressed in writing a much greater concern of Trump stifling a member of the press without due process. None of them are claiming the issue that needed to be addressed Acosta’s use of time. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796/219 "2018-11-28T03:30:34Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > When he imprisons them or has them lined up against a wall, then we will talk. It’s true that his threats of using libel laws and violence against the press haven’t yet stifled free expression. But just two or three years after a president who talks like a dictator is elected is too soon to expect that. [The press was still free in Turkey until Erdoğan’s second term.](https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/08/destroying-free-press-erdogan-turkey/568402/) I’m thinking/hoping that Trump is too old to become a real elected dictator like Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, or one of the South American examples such as Getúlio Vargas and Juan Perón. However, talking like a dictator historically precedes being a dictator. And it’s quite possible a future president, who disrespects Democratic norms, will start from where Trump left off. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796/220 "2018-11-28T03:47:29Z")
Another point re the thread title. Expert consensus seems to be that elected strongman Alberto Fujimori, in Peru, didn’t start out wanting to destroy freedom of the press. But if you incite enough, year after year, the people under you eventually start acting on the incitement. Trump might have started out seeing “enemy of the people” as nonsense to sell his base, but once you say something enough, it’s hard not to start believing it. And in another couple years, it’s hard not to start acting on it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-trump-want-to-undermine-the-role-of-the-press/824796.md?page=12)