{"slug":"trump-media-attacks-enemy-of-the-people","title":"Press Freedom: 'Enemy of the People' and Systematic Media Attacks","date":"2017-02-17","lastUpdated":"2020-11-01","description":"Throughout his presidency, Trump repeatedly labeled mainstream news organizations 'the enemy of the people' — a phrase with specific historical associations with Stalinist and Maoist political repression. He targeted individual journalists by name, cheered when reporters were physically assaulted at rallies, suspended press credentials, called for revoking broadcast licenses, and publicly threatened to investigate news organizations. The Committee to Protect Journalists and press freedom organizations documented Trump as the most hostile U.S. president toward press freedom in the modern era. His rhetoric was cited in violence against journalists globally.","summary":"Trump's attacks on the press were systematic and escalating: he labeled specific organizations (CNN, NBC, the New York Times, Washington Post) 'fake news,' called reporters 'enemies of the people,' suggested revoking NBC's broadcast license, threatened to revoke press credentials, and cheered when supporters physically confronted journalists at rallies. Body-slammed a reporter (Greg Gianforte in Montana) and Trump endorsed him. Reporters covering Trump rallies documented being surrounded by hostile crowds. The Annenberg Foundation documented 2,000+ attacks on press freedom during the Trump presidency. Authoritarian governments around the world cited Trump's 'fake news' rhetoric when expelling journalists or restricting press access.","category":"press-freedom","severity":"critical","ongoing":false,"sources":[{"url":"https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/17/business/trump-calls-the-news-media-the-enemy-of-the-american-people.html","title":"Trump Calls the News Media the 'Enemy of the American People'","publisher":"The New York Times"},{"url":"https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/freedom-of-press/2020/10/26/f7e08f4a-16e9-11eb-aeec-b93bcc29a01b_story.html","title":"Trump's attacks on the press: A running list","publisher":"The Washington Post"},{"url":"https://apnews.com/article/trump-media-attacks-enemy-of-the-people","title":"Press freedom groups document Trump attacks on media","publisher":"The Associated Press"},{"url":"https://cpj.org/2021/01/attacks-on-the-press-united-states-trump/","title":"Attacks on the Press: United States — Trump Era","publisher":"Committee to Protect Journalists"}],"draft":false,"status":"published","tags":["press-freedom","enemy-of-the-people","first-term","media-attacks","fake-news","First-Amendment"],"relatedEntries":[],"timeline":[{"date":"2017-01-27","title":"Trump introduces 'fake news' as systematic label","summary":"Trump begins systematically applying the 'fake news' label to mainstream news organizations that report unfavorably. The phrase, previously used to describe fabricated internet content, is repurposed to delegitimize accurate journalism."},{"date":"2017-02-17","title":"Trump calls press 'enemy of the American People'","summary":"Trump tweets that multiple mainstream news organizations are 'the enemy of the American People' — a phrase with documented historical use by authoritarian regimes to preface persecution of political opponents."},{"date":"2017-10-11","title":"Trump threatens NBC broadcast license over coverage","summary":"After unfavorable NBC News coverage, Trump tweets that the FCC should challenge and revoke NBC's broadcast license. First Amendment lawyers call the threat legally invalid but functionally intimidating."},{"date":"2018-11-07","title":"CNN's Jim Acosta has credentials revoked","summary":"The White House revokes CNN reporter Jim Acosta's press credentials after a contentious press briefing exchange. A federal court orders the credentials restored, finding the revocation violated due process."},{"date":"2019-05-24","title":"Trump praises body-slam of journalist at rally","summary":"At a Montana rally, Trump praises Greg Gianforte — charged with assaulting a journalist — as 'my kind of guy.' The crowd cheers."}],"location":{"name":"Washington, D.C.","lat":38.9072,"lng":-77.0369},"custom":{"era":"first-term","posture":"reported","warCrimeClassification":"enabling","internationalLaw":[{"statute":"International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights","article":"Article 19","provision":"Freedom of expression — systematic presidential labeling of journalists as enemies and rhetoric inciting hostility toward press raises Article 19 concerns"}],"iccRelevance":false,"victims":"Working journalists subjected to threats and physical intimidation; press freedom globally weakened as authoritarian governments adopted 'fake news' rhetoric; U.S. public's access to independent information about government undermined","structuredPerpetrators":[{"name":"Donald Trump","role":"President; systematic campaign of attacks on press freedom including 'enemy of the people' labeling, targeted credential revocations, broadcast license threats","institution":"White House"}],"updateLog":[{"date":"2020-11-01","summary":"Updated with documented global adoption of 'fake news' rhetoric by authoritarian governments."}]}}