Whitehouse Condemns Trump Administration's Escalating Attacks on The Media

Press Release

Following the Trump administration's decision to ban CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins from a press event after she questioned President Trump on his relationship with his former attorney Michael Cohen, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and eight other senators to introduce a resolution condemning the White House's attempts to restrict media access and affirming the importance of a free and unfettered press. Over the previous weekend, Vice President Mike Pence defended the widely denounced decision as President Trump lambasted journalists on Twitter, calling the media "unpatriotic" and accusing reporters of putting lives at risk.

"Speaking truth to power is what our Founding Fathers had in mind when they enshrined freedom of the press in our Constitution," said Whitehouse. "That's why bashing journalists for doing their job and obstructing their work is an insult to American democracy. I'm proud to join my colleagues in taking a stand against these strong-man tactics."

President Trump has frequently attacked the press, describing mainstream media outlets as "a stain on America," "trying to take away our history and our heritage," and "the enemy of the American People." At the end of April, the watchdog organization Reporters Without Borders dropped the United States by two places in its annual World Press Freedom Index. Four days later, President Trump called the White House press corps "a bunch of fake news liberals who hate me." Later that month, 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl reported that President Trump explained his attacks on the press by saying, "I do it to discredit you all and demean you all so that when you write negative stories about me no one will believe you."

The resolution is supported by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), American Society of Journalists and Authors, Author's Guild, Committee to Protect Journalists, Demand Progress Action, National Coalition Against Censorship, PEN American, Protect Democracy and Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

"Any attacks against the press are attacks on our constitutional democracy itself and we won't stand for it," said Faiz Shakir, ACLU National Political Director.

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