In the turbulent political climate of the United States, the press faces an unprecedented challenge to its credibility and professional standing. According to media expert Tom Goldstein, the significant decline in public trust since Donald Trump first assumed office represents a crisis that demands immediate action from journalists nationwide.
The Growing Threat to Press Freedom
The relationship between the American presidency and the press has deteriorated dramatically in recent years. President Trump and his administration have repeatedly targeted journalists with derogatory comments and unfounded accusations. The most frequent charge leveled against media organizations is the blanket term "fake news," typically thrown around without substantial evidence to support the claims.
What concerns media analysts like Goldstein is the press's tendency to let these accusations stand without mounting a proper defense. No prominent journalists, public figures, or intellectual leaders have stepped forward consistently to counter these allegations and champion the societal importance of aggressive, fact-based journalism.
Confronting Presidential Bullying
The situation reached disturbing new lows earlier this month during what has become Trump's preferred setting for impromptu news conferences: the cramped aisle of Air Force One behind a partially open door. During one such encounter, the President denigrated a Bloomberg News reporter by telling her, "Quiet, piggy."
Days later, when an ABC reporter questioned Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the violent death and dismemberment of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, Trump intervened callously. His explanation for the gruesome murder that occurred at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul was simply: "Things happen." When the reporter persisted with what was clearly a logical and necessary question given the circumstances, Trump attacked the journalist personally, labeling him "a terrible person" and "a terrible reporter."
In a remarkable moment that blurred professional boundaries, Trump scolded the reporter as if grading a student's performance: "You don't have to embarrass our guest by asking a question like that." This incident raises fundamental questions about the role of journalists in holding power accountable, regardless of who might feel embarrassed by necessary inquiries.
The Case for Journalistic Pushback
Other instances of presidential attacks on media professionals reveal a consistent pattern. Earlier this year, Trump told Jonathan Karl, the respected Washington bureau chief correspondent of ABC: "You are a third-rate reporter...You will never make it." In a separate incident, Trump used his Truth Social platform to refer to Brian Roberts, chairman of Comcast, as a "lowlife."
What troubles media observers is that neither Karl nor Roberts publicly responded to these personal attacks. This silence, while understandable from a professional standpoint, potentially allows false characterizations to gain unwarranted credibility.
Goldstein argues that while Trump's bullying tactics make responses difficult, they're not impossible. Journalists must become more vocal in defending their profession and correcting false narratives if they hope to maintain public trust. The conventional journalistic principle of objectivity shouldn't prevent professionals from responding when they themselves become the story through presidential attacks.
The writer emphasizes that skilled journalists traditionally view themselves as adversaries of authority rather than objects to be loved. This dynamic needs reinforcement through consistent pushback against false accusations. The foundational journalistic principle that someone who is attacked deserves the right to respond must extend to journalists themselves when they face unfounded criticism from the highest office in the land.
