As Twitchy told you, this morning, Donald Trump once again took to Twitter to go after one of his favorite targets: the media. He’s certainly gotten some rough treatment from the MSM since clinching the GOP nomination last year, but if he’s looking for sympathy, this is the wrong way to get it:
With all of the Fake News coming out of NBC and the Networks, at what point is it appropriate to challenge their License? Bad for country!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2017
That’s an indisputably awful take right there.
NBC’s “license” is the Constitution. https://t.co/VkwKGUQ7LR
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) October 11, 2017
It is never appropriate nor Constitutional to challenge broadcast licenses on basis of content. Period. Next question. https://t.co/BBeq0DD2uQ
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) October 11, 2017
This is not about politics. This is about the first Amendment! I may disagree with #NBC but I stand for their right. #1stAmendment https://t.co/y0HLNjlb7N
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) October 11, 2017
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 11, 2017
At no point. Ever. https://t.co/KL5AuLIn92
— Mo (@molratty) October 11, 2017
Never, since we have this thing called the First Amendment. https://t.co/OH1czDBXM0
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) October 11, 2017
No dear Trump I didn't escape Venezuela to have another clown threatening to shut down the press here as well. America is better than that. https://t.co/cwoT40QFB8
— Liss Kron ??? (@lisskron) October 11, 2017
WTF…. Complain about coverage all you want, but suggesting coverage stop altogether is fascist talk. Full stop. https://t.co/m3FaCZ22Q2
— sevenlayercake ? (@sevenlayercake) October 11, 2017
Mmmmkay @POTUS …slow ur roll https://t.co/yZ0NgmoEeV
— Kira (@RealKiraDavis) October 11, 2017
Progressive luminary Ezra Klein was also outraged at Trump’s rather threatening tone:
The NBC threat is a reminder that if Trump were competent and powerful enough to be an authoritarian, he would be one.
— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) October 11, 2017
Threatening the media, whose freedom is enshrined in our Constitution, is certainly something an authoritarian would do. But it’s hard not to feel like Klein’s outrage is somewhat ironic considering the MSM’s nonchalance toward executive overreach when the executive doing the overreach has a (D) by his name.
It always takes a Republican President to inspire the Left to embrace limited Federal power, the Constitution and separation of powers. https://t.co/jcxsrrkL61
— Chad Felix Greene (@chadfelixg) October 11, 2017
Trump’s flirtation with authoritarianism should most definitely be called out. But don’t pretend certain presidents weren’t flirting with authoritarianism before he took the White House.
But they loved it when their guy had a pen and a phone.
— Ordy Packard (@TheOpulentAmish) October 11, 2017
I can't remember if Klein found this problematic. I certainly find Trump's NBC comments problematic.https://t.co/T7FjIV9TTT
— Joshua Sharf (@joshuasharf) October 11, 2017
Authoritarianism is always bad — and intellectual honesty is always good. Simple as that.
