US President Donald Trump labeled mainstream media outlets such as CNN and MSNBC as “illegal” and “corrupt” during a speech at the Department of Justice on Friday.
Trump, speaking to prosecutors and law enforcement officials, claimed that these outlets operate as “political arms of the Democrat party” and that their coverage of him is overwhelmingly negative. He asserted that “it has to stop” and questioned the legality of their reporting.
“They literally write 97.6 percent bad about me,” Trump said. “It just cannot be legal. I don’t believe it’s legal. And they do it in total coordination with each other.”
Since his first election victory in 2016, Trump has consistently attacked the US media, branding journalists as “enemies of the people” and dismissing critical coverage as “fake news.” His remarks Friday mark an escalation in his long-standing hostility toward the press.
Now in his second term, Trump has reportedly increased pressure on major news agencies like The Associated Press while granting greater access to right-wing media outlets that were previously considered fringe.
