US President Donald Trump speaks to the press in Washington. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI: US President Donald Trump’s relationship with the media has always been contentious but the past few days have seen an unprecedented aggression from his side.
The White House is revoking the credential pass of CNN reporter Jim Acosta hours after a fiery exchange at a press conference on Thursday.
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The following day, Trump lashed out at another reporter April Ryan, who is African American, and a White House correspondent for American Urban Radio Networks, saying: “You talk about somebody that’s a loser. She doesn’t know what the hell she’s doing.”
The president continued to criticise reporters during the press talk in front of the White House, and responded to another black female reporter, CNN’s Abby Phillip’s question by saying, “What a stupid question that is. What a stupid question.”But I watch you a lot, you ask a lot of stupid questions.”
Earlier in the week, Trump called out PBS NewsHour White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor, another Black female reporter, for asking a “racist” question.
She had asked Trump whether he worries his rhetoric is emboldening white nationalists.
“That is such a racist question. It is so insulting to me. It’s a very terrible thing you said.”
Politico, an American publication, quoted the National Association of Black Journalists condemning Trump’s comments towards Ryan, Philip and Alcindor, and calling them “appalling, irresponsible and should be denounced.”
“The most powerful man in the free world is verbally abusing journalists,” NABJ President Sarah Glover said. “The past two years have been filled with assaults on the media and Donald Trump’s comments this week have reached an all-time low with attacks on three black female journalists.”
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Politico also pointed out that while Trump has frequently sparred with white male reporters, as well, journalists and reporters say he seemed “to go one step further in his attacks on journalists like Ryan, Phillip and Alcindor. For instance, while Trump dismissed Dawsey’s question as stupid, he went one step further with Phillip by noting “I watch you a lot” and and that she asks “a lot of stupid questions.” With Ryan, he added on that she was a “loser”.”
American journalists took to twitter to stand with the three women and show their support for them.
