The Trump Administration's War On The Press

Jan. 20 - 28; Jan. 29 - Feb. 4; Feb. 5 - 11; Feb. 12 - 18;

Feb. 19 - 25; Feb. 26 - Mar. 4; Mar. 5 - 11; Mar. 12 - 18;

Mar. 19-25; Mar. 26 - Apr. 1; Apr. 2 - 8; Apr. 9 - 15

Apr. 16 - 22; Apr. 23 - 29; Apr. 30 - May 6; May 7 - 13

May 14 - 20; May 21 - 27; May 28 - Jun. 3; Jun. 4 - 10

Jun. 11-17; Jun. 16 - 19; Jun. 20 - 26; Jun. 27 - July 3

January 2017

January 20

New Jersey Reporter Said There Was A “Blackout On Regional Newspapers” At The Inauguration. Poynter quoted Jonathan Salant, a Washington correspondent for NJ Advance Media who has covered inaugurations since 1989, saying, “The presidential inaugural committee imposed a blackout on regional newspapers with Washington correspondents.” Salant added that he had “never seen such disdain for the media.”

Jonathan Salant, Washington correspondent for NJ Advance Media who has covered every presidential inauguration since 1989, informs me of the following:

"The presidential inaugural committee imposed a blackout on regional newspapers with Washington correspondents. They never returned emails, never responded to requests and denied everyone credentials to cover the Trump inaugural events but never told anyone so reporters had to wait on lines to pick up non-existent credentials."

They wouldn't even let reporters pick up their already-approved Secret Service credentials, Salant said.

"The Regional Reporters Association email list was buzzing the last two days as Washington reporters from papers across the country traded stories of not being told anything about their credentials, and being turned away when they showed up to try to find out anything," he said.

Salant has "never seen such disdain for the media," he said. [Poynter, 1/20/17]

January 21

President Donald Trump: “I Have A Running War With The Media.” During a visit to CIA headquarters, President Donald Trump said he has “a running war with the media” and called reporters “among the most dishonest human beings on earth.” 

The New York Times noted that Trump “unleash[ed] a remarkably bitter attack on the news media, falsely accusing journalists of both inventing a rift between him and intelligence agencies and deliberately understating the size of his inauguration crowd.” Trump accused the media of lying and claimed, “I think they’re going to pay a big price.” From a January 21 New York Times article:

President Trump used his first full day in office on Saturday to unleash a remarkably bitter attack on the news media, falsely accusing journalists of both inventing a rift between him and intelligence agencies and deliberately understating the size of his inauguration crowd.

In a visit to the Central Intelligence Agency intended to showcase his support for the intelligence community, Mr. Trump ignored his own repeated public statements criticizing the intelligence community, a group he compared to Nazis just over a week ago.

He also called journalists “among the most dishonest human beings on earth,” and he said that up to 1.5 million people had attended his inauguration, a claim that photographs disproved.

[...]

On Saturday, he said journalists were responsible for any suggestion that he was not fully supportive of intelligence agencies’ work.

“I have a running war with the media,” Mr. Trump said. “They are among the most dishonest human beings on earth, and they sort of made it sound like I had a feud with the intelligence community.”

[...]

Mr. Trump also took issue with news reports about the number of people who attended his inauguration, complaining that the news media used photographs of “an empty field” to make it seem as if his inauguration did not draw many people.

“We caught them in a beauty,” Mr. Trump said of the news media, “and I think they’re going to pay a big price.” [The New York Times, 1/21/17]

Trump Personally Attacked Time Reporter For Incorrect Tweet On MLK Jr. Bust, Even Though The Reporter "Quickly Acknowledged And Corrected The Mistake." During his CIA visit, Trump also personally attacked Time reporter Zeke Miller for “mistakenly reporting that a bust of Martin Luther King, Jr. had been removed from the Oval Office,” according to The Hill. Miller "quickly acknowledged and corrected the mistake." Trump said the incident demonstrated “‘how dishonest the media is.’” From the January 21 article:

President Trump on Saturday attacked a Time magazine journalist for mistakenly reporting that a bust of Martin Luther King, Jr. had been removed from the Oval Office.

Trump called out the reporter, Zeke Miller, while speaking to staff at the Central Intelligence Agency, even though Miller quickly acknowledged and corrected the mistake the previous day.

“They said that ‘Donald Trump took down the bust — the statue of Dr. Martin Luther King.’ But it was right there. There was a cameraman that was in front of it,” Trump said, standing in front of the CIA’s Memorial Wall honoring the employees who died in the line of duty.

“So Zeke, Zeke from Time magazine writes this story about ‘I took down’ — I would never do that because I have great respect for Dr. Martin Luther King.

“But this is how dishonest the media is,” Trump continued. “Now big story, the retraction was like, where? Was it a line or do they even bother putting it in?” [The Hill, 1/21/17]

Press Secretary Sean Spicer Falsely Claimed Media “Engaged In Deliberately False Reporting” On Inauguration Crowd Size. In his first official statement from the White House press briefing room on January 21, White House press secretary Sean Spicer claimed that “some members of the media were engaged in deliberately false reporting,” again attacking Miller for his “irresponsible and reckless” tweet about the Martin Luther King Jr. bust. He also falsely claimed that media reported “inaccurate numbers involving crowd size” at the inauguration and falsely claimed, “This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration -- period.” Spicer added, “We're going to hold the press accountable.” From Politico’s transcript:

SEAN SPICER: Yesterday, at a time when our nation and the world was watching the peaceful transition of power and, as the President said, the transition and the balance of power from Washington to the citizens of the United States, some members of the media were engaged in deliberately false reporting. For all the talk about the proper use of Twitter, two instances yesterday stand out.

One was a particular egregious example in which a reporter falsely tweeted out that the bust of Martin Luther King, Jr. had been removed from the Oval Office. After it was pointed out that this was just plain wrong, the reporter casually reported and tweeted out and tried to claim that a Secret Service agent must have just been standing in front of it. This was irresponsible and reckless.

Secondly, photographs of the inaugural proceedings were intentionally framed in a way, in one particular tweet, to minimize the enormous support that had gathered on the National Mall. This was the first time in our nation's history that floor coverings have been used to protect the grass on the Mall. That had the effect of highlighting any areas where people were not standing, while in years past the grass eliminated this visual. This was also the first time that fencing and magnetometers went as far back on the Mall, preventing hundreds of thousands of people from being able to access the Mall as quickly as they had in inaugurations past.

Inaccurate numbers involving crowd size were also tweeted. No one had numbers, because the National Park Service, which controls the National Mall, does not put any out. By the way, this applies to any attempts to try to count the number of protestors today in the same fashion.

We do know a few things, so let's go through the facts. We know that from the platform where the President was sworn in, to 4th Street, it holds about 250,000 people. From 4th Street to the media tent is about another 220,000. And from the media tent to the Washington Monument, another 250,000 people. All of this space was full when the President took the Oath of Office. We know that 420,000 people used the D.C. Metro public transit yesterday, which actually compares to 317,000 that used it for President Obama's last inaugural. This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration -- period -- both in person and around the globe. Even the New York Times printed a photograph showing a misrepresentation of the crowd in the original Tweet in their paper, which showed the full extent of the support, depth in crowd, and intensity that existed.

[...]

The President is committed to unifying our country, and that was the focus of his inaugural address. This kind of dishonesty in the media, the challenging -- that bringing about our nation together is making it more difficult.

There's been a lot of talk in the media about the responsibility to hold Donald Trump accountable. And I'm here to tell you that it goes two ways. We're going to hold the press accountable, as well. The American people deserve better. And as long as he serves as the messenger for this incredible movement, he will take his message directly to the American people where his focus will always be. [Politico, 1/21/17; CNNMoney.com, 1/21/17]

January 22

Trump Team Refused To Send A Representative To CNN’s Sunday Show The Day After CNN Opted Not To Air The Spicer Presser Live. Trump and his team refused to send a representative to appear on CNN’s Sunday political talk show, State of the Union, while booking appearances on the major political talk shows on ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox Broadcasting Co. At the top of the January 22 edition of CNN’s State of the Union, host Jake Tapper said that his show “asked the Trump White House for a member of the new administration to join us this morning, but they declined.” The refusal came a day after CNN chose not to air the live feed of Spicer’s press conference. [Media Matters, 1/22/17]

White House Chief Of Staff Reince Priebus: “There’s An Obsession By The Media To Delegitimize This President, And We Are Not Going To Sit Around And Let It Happen.” Making an appearing on Fox News Sunday, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus attempted to spin a question about Spicer’s press conference by lashing out at media reporting. When asked why Trump would bring up crowd size, Pribus replied that “it’s not about crowd size. It’s about honesty in the media.” Priebus continued to lash out at the media, claiming that “there's an obsession by the media to delegitimize this president, and we are not going to sit around and let it happen. We’re going to fight back tooth and nail every day, and twice on Sunday.” Like Trump and Spicer, Priebus also brought up Miller’s mistaken tweet to try to cast blame on the media at large:

CHRIS WALLACE (HOST): President Trump said in his inaugural address that every decision he makes will be to benefit American families. How does arguing about crowd size do that?

REINCE PRIEBUS: Because it’s really not about crowd size. What it’s about is honesty in the media.

[...]

WALLACE: Wait a minute, he could have given a news conference yesterday, talked about the agenda, talked about the signing, the executive actions he's going to sign, his legislative agenda. He talks about crowd size. Let me ask you about one --

PRIEBUS: Wait a minute, wait a minute. Let's back up. We didn't tweet out that MLK Jr.'s bust was removed from the Oval Office. We didn’t --

[CROSSTALK]

WALLACE: Wait a minute, the reporter made a mistake, he apologized. And Spicer sent him a tweet back saying "apology accepted". 

PRIEBUS: Right, so these are the mistakes that are made. A reporter shoots first, aims later. I think the magnitude --

WALLACE: Are you saying there's a conspiracy here? 

PRIEBUS: I’m saying there's an obsession by the media to delegitimize this president, and we are not going to sit around and let it happen. We’re going to fight back tooth and nail every day, and twice on Sunday. [FoxNews.com, 1/22/17; Fox Broadcasting Co., Fox News Sunday, 1/23/17]

Kellyanne Conway: If The Press Is “Going To Keep Referring To Our Press Secretary In Those Terms, I Think We're Going To Have To Rethink Our Relationship Here.” Counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway, speaking to NBC host Chuck Todd, criticized Todd for saying Spicer uttered a “provable falsehood” at his press briefing, saying, “Chuck, if we're going to keep referring to our press secretary in those types of terms, I think we're going to have to rethink our relationship here.” Conway defended Spicer’s press briefing, claiming that he simply gave “alternative facts” about the inauguration crowd size, and she attacked Miller for his tweet about the Martin Luther King Jr. bust. From the January 22 edition of NBC’s Meet the Press:

CHUCK TODD (HOST): You make a very reasonable and rational case for why crowd sizes don't matter, then explain -- you did not answer the question. Why did the president send out his press secretary, who's not just the spokesperson for Donald Trump, he also serves as the spokesperson for all of America at times. He speaks for all of the country at times, why put him out there for the very first time in front of that podium to utter a provable falsehood? It's a small thing, but the first time he confronts the public, it's a falsehood?

KELLYANNE CONWAY: Chuck, if we're going to keep referring to our press secretary in those types of terms, I think we're going to have to rethink our relationship here. I want to have a great, open relationship with our press. But look what happened the day before, talking about falsehoods. We allowed the press to come into the Oval Office and witness President Trump signing executive orders. Of course the Senate just confirmed General Mattis and General Kelly to their two posts, and we allow the press in, and what happens almost immediately? A falsehood is told about removing the bust of Martin Luther King Jr. from the Oval Office. That's just flat out false.

TODD: And it was corrected immediately. But Kellyanne --

CONWAY: But, Chuck, why was it said? Chuck, why was it said in the first place? Because everybody is so presumptively negative --

TODD: I don't know. Climb into the head of that reporter.

CONWAY: Oh no, no, no, that reporter was writing on behalf of the press pool. That falsehood, that spread 3,000 times before it was corrected. And it's still out there.

TODD: Excuse me, it does not excuse, and you did not answer the question --

CONWAY: I did answer your question.

TODD: No you did not. You did not answer the question of why the president asked the White House press secretary to come out in front of the podium for the first time and utter a falsehood. Why did he do that? It undermines the credibility of the entire White House Press Office on day one.

CONWAY: No it doesn't, don't be so overly dramatic about it, Chuck. You're saying it's a falsehood, and Sean Spicer, our press secretary, gave alternative facts to that. But the point remains that there's --

TODD: Wait, wait, alternative facts? Alternative facts -- four of the five facts he uttered. The one thing he got right was Zeke Miller. Four of the five facts he uttered were just not true. Look, alternative facts are not facts. They're falsehoods. [NBC, Meet the Press, 1/22/17]

Conway: “No Defense 4 Press Lies About MLK Jr. Bust.” Defending her Meet the Press interview, Conway wrote on Twitter, “Watch entire clip! No defense 4 press lies about MLK Jr. bust; actual facts about women in poverty, w/ no health care, failing schools”:

[Twitter, 1/22/17]

January 23

Conway: “Because Of What The Press Is Doing Now To Me ... We Have Packages Delivered To My House With White Substances.” During a January 23 interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Conway claimed that “because of what the press is doing now to me, I have Secret Service protection.” Conway also accused the press of having “presumptive negativity” about the Trump administration. From the January 23 edition of Hannity:

KELLYANNE CONWAY: The print pooler sent out the pool report that the MLK bust had been removed. It is false. I don’t say his name publicly because I don’t want him to get attacked like I do. Because of what the press is doing now to me, I have Secret Service protection. We have packages delivered to my house with white substances. That is a shame and, yes, I hold into account for it. This guy puts it out, it gets tweeted and it gets reported 3,000 times. You still can't take it back. He apologized to his colleagues in the press, he has not apologized to the president, and the damage is done because then people look at Donald Trump as the R-word. The darn bust was right there. I was standing next to it. It was being hidden by a guard. But why don't you ask us? Why don't you say, ‘Where's the bust?’ It's presumptive negativity. [Fox News, Hannity, 1/23/17]

Spicer: “The Default [Media] Narrative Is Always Negative, And That’s Demoralizing” And “Frustrating.” In his first full press briefing as White House press secretary, Spicer admonished the press for, what he perceived was a “constant theme” in the media “to undercut the tremendous support” for Trump. Spicer complained that the “default narrative is always negative,” calling the coverage “demoralizing” and “frustrating”:

White House press secretary Sean Spicer on Monday launched into a lengthy defense of statements made by him and President Trump, and of criticisms of the president.

"The default narrative is always negative," Spicer said Monday during his first briefing in which he took questions. "And that's demoralizing."

Spicer lamented what he called a "constant theme to undercut the tremendous support" that Trump has, adding, "I think its just unbelievably frustrating when you're continually told it's not big enough; it's not good enough; you can't win." [NPR, 1/23/17]

Conway: “Proud” Of Spicer For “Hit[ting] Back” At Media’s “‘Constant Theme To Undercut’ Trump.” On January 23, Conway tweeted a link to a post on a right-wing website headlined “WATCH: Sean Spicer HITS BACK at 'constant theme to undercut' Trump by media,” adding that she was “proud” of Spicer.

[Twitter, 1/23/17]

January 24

Trump Called CNN "FAKE NEWS,", Attacked Them For Inauguration Ratings. In a January 25 tweet, Trump panned CNN for not having the highest inauguration ratings, calling them "FAKE NEWS" and suggesting the "public" was "smart" for not watching the network:

[Twitter, 1/24/17]

January 25

Trump Mocked Reporters For “Groveling” To Get A Story. During a January 25 interview with ABC’s David Muir, Trump falsely claimed that the author of a Pew report on voter registration inaccuracies provided evidence of voter fraud. When Muir fact-checked the president, saying that the Pew author said “they found no evidence of voter fraud,” Trump claimed the Pew author was “groveling again” and added “I always talk about the reporters that grovel when they write something that you want to hear but not necessarily millions of people want to hear, or have to hear.”

DONALD TRUMP: He is groveling again. You know, I always talk about the reporters that grovel when they write something that you want to hear but not necessarily millions of people want to hear, or have to hear. [ABC News, ABC World News Tonight with David Muir, 1/25/16]

Dan Scavino Tweeted “We Have Zero Interest In Sharing Security Measures With The Media” After NY Times Reported That Trump Tweets From An Unsecured Phone. Following a January 25 New York Times story that reported that Trump uses “his old, unsecured Android phone, to the protests of some of his aides,” White House social media director Dan Scavino tweeted, “We have zero interest in sharing security measures with the media- when it comes to various social media accounts.”

[The New York Times, 1/25/17; Twitter, 1/25/17]

January 26

Trump: There's "Nothing Fair About The Media. Nothing." In a speech before congressional Republicans at a policy retreat, Trump criticized the press for "never giv[ing]" anti-abortion activists "the credit that they deserve," adding that there's "nothing fair about the media. Nothing." From the January 26 speech:

DONALD TRUMP: We've reinstated the Mexico City policy, a longstanding policy -- isn't that nice? And by the way, on Friday, a lot of people are going to be showing up to Washington, right Mike? A lot of people. You know, the press never gives them the credit that they deserve. They'll have 300, 400, 500, 600,000 people. You won't even read about it. When other people show up, you read big time about it. Right? So it's not fair, but nothing fair about the media. Nothing. [CNN, live remarks from President Donald Trump, 1/26/17]

Trump's Chief Strategist Stephen Bannon Demanded The Media "Keep Its Mouth Shut." The New York Times reported that Stephen Bannon, Trump’s chief strategist, attacked the entire mainstream media as “the opposition party” in an interview. Bannon lambasted the media’s “humiliating defeat” in incorrectly predicting Trump would lose the election and demanded that media should “keep its mouth shut and just listen for awhile”:

Stephen K. Bannon, President Trump’s chief White House strategist, laced into the American press during an interview on Wednesday evening, arguing that news organizations had been “humiliated” by an election outcome few anticipated, and repeatedly describing the media as “the opposition party” of the current administration.

“The media should be embarrassed and humiliated and keep its mouth shut and just listen for awhile,” Mr. Bannon said during a telephone call.

“I want you to quote this,” Mr. Bannon added. “The media here is the opposition party. They don’t understand this country. They still do not understand why Donald Trump is the president of the United States.”

[...]

“The elite media got it dead wrong, 100 percent dead wrong,” Mr. Bannon said of the election, calling it “a humiliating defeat that they will never wash away, that will always be there.”

“The mainstream media has not fired or terminated anyone associated with following our campaign,” Mr. Bannon said. “Look at the Twitter feeds of those people: they were outright activists of the Clinton campaign.” (He did not name specific reporters or editors.)

“That’s why you have no power,” Mr. Bannon added. “You were humiliated.”

[...]

“You’re the opposition party,” Mr. Bannon said. “Not the Democratic Party. You’re the opposition party. The media’s the opposition party.”

While Mr. Bannon mostly referred to the “elite” or “mainstream” media, he cited The New York Times and The Washington Post by name.

“The paper of record for our beloved republic, The New York Times, should be absolutely ashamed and humiliated,” Mr. Bannon said. “They got it 100 percent wrong.”

He added that he has been a reader of The Times for most of his adult life. [The New York Times, 1/26/17]

Trump: "Much Of The Media ... Is Very, Very Dishonest. Honestly, It Is Fake News." Trump took issue with reporting on his trip to the CIA, complaining that the media demeaned his visit and lashing out at how the crowd's support was portrayed. During a January 26 interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, the president stated, "What I'm saying, Sean, is this: the media, much of the media, not all of it, is very, very dishonest. Honestly, it is fake news. It's fake, they make things up." From the January 26 interview: 

DONALD TRUMP: There were like 300, 350 people in the room, over 1000 wanted to come. And if I took a vote right now, I would've won 350 to nothing, believe me, but even that was demeaned as much as they can demean it. What I'm saying, Sean, is this: the media, much of the media, not all of it, is very, very dishonest. Honestly, it is fake news. It's fake, they make things up. [Fox News, Hannity, 1/26/17]

January 27

Conway: It’s “Dangerous To The Democracy” For The Press To Call Out Trump’s Lies. On Fox & Friends, Conway suggested that “it’s dangerous to the democracy and for those around the world watching what we do and how this president is covered in his early days” for the press to call out Trump’s lies. Conway also agreed with co-host’s Steve Doocy’s claim that the press “would never do that to Barack Obama in a million years.” From the January 27 edition of Fox News’ Fox & Friends:

STEVE DOOCY (CO-HOST): Plus there are some, Kellyanne, there are some reporters who are calling -- Kellyanne, there are some reporters in some newspapers that are just flat out calling the president a liar. They would never do that to Barack Obama in a million years.

KELLYANNE CONWAY: Even when he did. You can keep your doctor if you like, you can keep your insurance plan. We have 57 states in the nation. I mean, there were plenty of occasions to call out former presidents on their falsehoods and that was done very sparingly and not so strategically. I think it's dangerous to the democracy and for those around the world watching what we do and how this president is covered in his early days, very dangerous to just throw in adjectives like that, either without evidence, but also without context. And I think some of the coverage, in addition to -- bias is easy to detect. It's really the incomplete coverage that I’m watching very closely. It's, well, what's missing from the story? What was omitted? What's left on the cutting room floor that actually would inform the public factually about what's happening here? What an amazing week.

DOOCY: No kidding. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 1/27/17]

Spicer Criticized CNN For Calling Demonstrators At The March For Life "Demonstrators." Spicer took to Twitter on January 27 to criticize CNN’s coverage of the anti-choice March for Life, specifically taking issue with their reference to attendees as “demonstrators.” The New York Times’ Sopan Deb responded, “that is literally what they’re doing. Demonstrating.”

[Twitter, 1/27/17]

Trump: The Media Is "A Disgrace" And "The Opposition Party In Many Ways.” Trump told CBN host David Brody, “I think the media is the opposition party in many ways” during an interview released on January 27. The president added, “I’m not talking about everybody, but a big portion of the media, the dishonesty, total deceit and deception. It makes them certainly partially the opposition party, absolutely.” Trump concluded, “yes, the media is a disgrace, and they’ve called me wrong from the beginning.” From the Christian Broadcasting Network interview:

DAVID BRODY: “Steve Bannon, one of your top advisors just the other day, to the New York Times called the media the ‘opposition party.’ Do you believe that?

DONALD TRUMP: “I think to a large extent they’re much more capable than the other side.”

DAVID BRODY: “Other side, meaning?”

TRUMP: “Yeah, I think the media is the opposition party in many ways. And I think that, and I’m not talking about all of them. I know people, like yourself, but I know people in the media that I have tremendous respect for. Respect them as much as anybody, so I’m not talking about everybody, but a big portion of the media, the dishonesty, total deceit and deception. It makes them certainly partially the opposition party, absolutely. I think they’re much more capable than the opposition party. The opposition party is losing badly. Now the media is on the opposition party’s side. And I actually said to myself, I say they treat me so unfairly it’s hard to believe that I won. But the fortunate thing about me is I have a big voice. I have a voice that people understand. And you see it now. We’re bringing back jobs. Ford is making a massive investment now in Michigan, General Motors is going to be making just magnificent investments, so many other companies are coming back in. But yes, the media is a disgrace, and they’ve called me wrong from the beginning. [Christian Broadcasting Network, The Brody File, 1/27/17]

January 28

Trump Called Out "Failing" And “Dishonest” NY Times And Wash. Post For Their “False And Angry” Coverage Of Him. In a series of tweets on January 28, Trump lashed out at The New York Times,­ calling them "failing" and "FAKE NEWS." Trump also complained that coverage about him in the Times and The Washington Post was "false and angry," claiming their reporting was "DISHONEST." [Twitter, 1/28/17, 1/28/17, 1/28/17]

January 29

Conway: Why Haven't Members Of The Media Been Fired For Their Trump Coverage? Conway lamented that journalists have not been "let go" for their Trump coverage, stating: "Not one network person has been let go. Not one silly political analyst and pundit who talked smack all day long about Donald Trump has been let go." Conway added, "we know all their names." This came in response to her being asked about Bannon’s attacks on the press. From the January 29 edition of Fox Broadcasting Co.’s Fox News Sunday:

KELLYANNE CONWAY: Who’s cleaning house? Which one is going to be the first network to get rid of these people who said things that just weren't true.

[...]

Not one network person has been let go. Not one silly political analyst and pundit who talked smack all day long about Donald Trump has been let go. They’re on panels every Sunday, they’re on cable news every day. Who’s the first editorial writer, where's the first blogger that will be let go that embarrassed his or her outlets? We know all their names. I'm too polite to call them out by name, but they know who they are, and they’re all wondering, will I be the first to go. The election was three months ago. None of them have been let go. [Fox Broadcasting Co., Fox News Sunday, 1/29/17]

Trump: “Somebody With Aptitude And Conviction Should Buy The FAKE NEWS And Failing @NYTimes And Either Run It Correctly Or Let It Fold With Dignity!"

[Twitter, 1/29/17]

Spicer Defended Statements That The Media Are “The Opposition Party”: "There Are Stories And Journalists Who Start Off With A Negative Disposition" On Trump. Spicer defended claims from Trump and Bannon that the media are the opposition party, stating, "there are stories and journalists who start off with a negative disposition on how they are going to cover the president and his actions." In the same interview, Spicer said it was “absolutely” the case that a media outlet that accuses Trump of lying is acting like an opposition party. [Fox News, MediaBuzz, 1/29/17]

Trump Accused Media Of “Falsely Reporting” That His Executive Order Is A “Muslim Ban.” Trump on January 29 published a statement on his Facebook page regarding the executive order he signed that bans refugees, visitors, and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations, stating, “to be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting.” But on January 28, Rudy Giuliani, who served during the campaign as a top Trump surrogate and is now an informal adviser to the president, bragged that he crafted a legal version of Trump’s “Muslim ban.” [Facebook, 1/29/17; Fox News, Justice with Judge Jeanine, 1/28/17] 

January 30

Trump Doubled Down On Claim That The Media Are “The Opposition Party.”

[Twitter, 1/30/17]

Spicer: Media Always “Lead With The Perceived Negative.” During a January 30 event at George Washington University, Spicer claimed that with media, "The lead is always the perceived negative." Spicer added, "It's never lead with the positive, it's always lead with the perceived negative." [C-SPAN, Media Coverage of the Trump Administration, 1/30/17]

Spicer Accused Media Of Spreading Misinformation About NSC And Faulty Reporting On Muslim Ban, Ridiculed Some Reporters’ Questions. During the January 30 White House daily press briefing, Spicer repeatedly complained about coverage of Trump’s memo on the National Security Council, saying: “Just yesterday, we called several outlets who were severely misreporting this topic to better inform them about what this memo means,” and later said any reporting that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was being taken off the National Security Council Principals Committee “is a spread of misinformation, plain and simple.” He later criticized American Urban Radio Networks’ White House correspondent April Ryan’s question about how much Trump values input from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other intelligence or military officials as “unbelievable.” When asked a question about the failure to specifically mention Jewish victims of the Holocaust in Trump’s Holocaust Remembrance Day statement, Spicer dismissed “nitpicking” about this as “pathetic” and “ridiculous,” and accused many reporters of offending Christians in response to a Christmas statement released by the Republican National Committee. And when asked by NBC’s White House correspondent Kristen Welker about comments from former national security officials that the Muslim ban executive order will make America less safe, Spicer criticized people for allegedly not reading the text of the order -- which had not yet been posted on the White House’s website -- and instead getting information about it through “misguided media reports.” [White House Press Briefing, 1/30/17; 1/30/17; 1/30/17; 1/30/17]

January 31

Spicer Blamed NBC For “Confusion” Over Trump’s Muslim Ban And Cast Doubt On NY Times Reporting On DHS Secretary’s Knowledge Of It. During the January 31 White House daily press briefing, Spicer told NBC’s Kristen Welker that NBC was to blame for “confusion” surrounding Trump’s executive order, saying, “I think you have been part of the confusion. You have helped cause this.” Spicer also referred to reporting that Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly was not fully briefed on the Muslim ban executive order until it was being signed as “misinformation,” and later said of this reporting, “I don’t believe the New York Times’ reporting is accurate.” [White House Press Briefing, 1/31/17; 1/31/17; 1/31/17]

Trump Campaign Text: “The Media Has Waged A Nasty Fight Every Day” Since Trump Was Sworn In, “Fight Back” And “Donate.” The Trump campaign sent a text message to supporters which said, “President Trump took office only 10 days ago and the media has waged a nasty fight every day. Fight back. Donate by the 11:59p deadline,” according to Politico reporter Gabriel Debenedetti.

[Twitter, 1/31/17] 

February 2017

February 1

Trump Attacked CNN As “Fake News,” Reiterated Claim That Media Are “The Opposition Party.” In a meeting honoring Black History Month that was televised from the White House, Trump said that CNN was a “hostile” place for supporters of his, adding, “I don’t watch CNN. … I don’t like watching fake news.” Trump later repeated his claim the press are “the opposition party”:

DONALD TRUMP: A lot of the media is actually the opposition party. They're so biased. And really it's a disgrace. Some of the media is fantastic and fair. But so much of the media is opposition party and knowingly saying incorrect things. So it's a very sad situation. But we seem to be doing well. You know, it's almost like in the meantime, we won, so maybe they don't have the influence they think. But they really are, they really have to straighten out their act, they're very dishonest people. [CNN, CNN Newsroom, 2/1/17; 2/1/17]

Trump Said “The Press Can Be Very Demeaning,” But Expects Them To Be “Very Dignified” In Coverage Of His SCOTUS Nominee. As he made introductory remarks at a meeting with conservative advocacy groups who support his Supreme Court nominee, Trump said, “We want to have him go through an elegant process as opposed to a demeaning process because they're very demeaning on the other side, and they want to make you look as bad as possible. And, of course, the press can be very demeaning too, so -- but I'm sure the press will be very dignified in this case.” [CNN, Inside Politics, 2/1/17]

February 2

Conway Accused The Media Of "Inciting Mob Mentality If Not Mob Violence" With Its Coverage. According to Mediaite, while appearing on Premiere Radio Networks' The Sean Hannity Show, Conway accused the media of "inciting mob mentality, if not mob violence" with its coverage of the Trump administration by “not showing the President and his main spokespeople respect.” Conway added that media coverage “encourage[ed] people to go out there and unpeacefully protest.” As reported by Mediaite:

Explaining that she thought protesters largely had “a very low level of literacy” of the issues they were demonstrating in the name of, Conway explained she felt the tone of the coverage of Trump amplifies that anger of the protesters:

“It never took on the aura of respect that it deserved, and if you are not showing the President and his main spokespeople respect, then you’re not showing the office respect, and you are inciting mob mentality if not mob violence. You are encouraging people to go out there and unpeacefully protest and block airport entrances for people who are going to visit a sick parent and can’t make their flight, or are going for a bereavement call and can’t make their flight.” [Mediaite, 2/2/17] 

February 3

Conway Complained That Media Failed To Cover A Nonexistent Massacre, Then Criticized NBC Reporter For Noting Her Error. On MSNBC’s Hardball, Conway lamented that there “was very little coverage” of the “Bowling Green Massacre” and that “most people don’t know” about it “because it didn’t get covered.” In fact, the so-called “Bowling Green Massacre” never happened. The next day, on February 3, Conway took to Twitter to call out an NBC reporter for not having “asked what I meant on Hardball before slamming me,” concluding that the reporter's actions were “not cool” and “not journalism.” From the February 2 interview:

KELLYANNE CONWAY: It's the seven countries that were previously identified by President Obama as being high risk, as being states that either harbor, train or export -- and/or export terrorism. These are nations very narrowly proscribed and also temporary.

CHRIS MATTHEWS (HOST): Sure.

CONWAY: I bet there was very little coverage, I bet it's brand-new information to people that President Obama had a six-month ban on the Iraqi refugee program after two Iraqis came here to this country, were radicalized, and they were the masterminds behind the Bowling Green massacre.

MATTHEWS: Let's --

CONWAY: Most people don't know that because it didn't get covered. [MSNBC, Hardball with Chris Matthews, 2/2/17; Salon, 2/3/17]

[Twitter, 2/3/17]

February 4

Trump Claimed NY Times Was “Forced To Apologize For Its Bad And Inaccurate Coverage” Of His Campaign, Again Called It “FAKE NEWS.”

[Twitter, 2/4/17]

February 5

Conway Defended Her Attacks On The Media In An Interview With Fox News. In a prerecorded interview on Fox’s MediaBuzz, Conway defended her February 2 claim that the media are “inciting mob mentality if not mob violence” by reporting on how the affected families of Trump’s Muslim ban were negatively impacted by the order. Dismissing many reporters as elitist, Conway told them how to properly report on the Trump administration, saying: “America didn't go to the fancy Ivy League schools like many in the media did. America doesn’t -- there are some people in the media their latte and dry cleaning bill for the year is basically what people earn in some of these districts and counties where Donald Trump won. ... Fast forward, why don't they go and they see who’s actually going to benefit and talk to the people who are [tangentially] going to benefit from Donald Trump keeping the factories here and not in Mexico and China?”

Later in the interview, Conway bashed the media for making errors and then posting corrections, and falsely claimed she “misspoke one word” when bringing up the nonexistent “Bowling Green massacre” on MSNBC which she had previously cited in several other interviews. Conway also used the interview to defend her January 29 suggestion that reporters be fired for their Trump campaign coverage.[Fox News, MediaBuzz, 2/5/17, 2/5/17; Media Matters, 2/7/17]

February 6

Trump: “Any Negative Polls Are Fake News, Just Like The CNN, ABC, NBC Polls In The Election.”

[Twitter, 2/6/17]

Trump: “In Many Cases, The Very, Very Dishonest Press Doesn’t Want To Report” On Terrorist Attacks. In an address to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) in Tampa, FL, Trump attacked the “very, very dishonest press” for supposedly “not even” reporting on terrorist attacks, adding that the press has “their reasons” for the alleged lack of coverage. From the February 6 address:

DONALD TRUMP: You’ve seen what happened in Paris and Nice. All over Europe, it’s happening. It’s gotten to a point where it's not even being reported, and in many cases, the very, very dishonest press doesn't want to report it. They have their reasons, and you understand that. So today we deliver a message in one very unified voice to these forces of death and destruction: America and its allies will defeat you. We will defeat them. [CNN, President Trump’s Address to U.S. CENTCOM, 2/6/17]

May 12

Trump Lashed Out At “The Fake Media” And Threatened To Cancel “All Future ‘Press Briefings,’” In A Series Of Tweets.

[Twitter, 5/12/17, 5/12/17, 5/12/17]

May 13

Trump Repeated Threat To End Daily Press Briefings Because Of “Hostility” From Media. In an interview on Fox News’ Justice with Judge Jeanine, Trump doubled down on his threat to cancel White House press briefings, suggesting that they could replace them with “a piece of paper with a perfectly accurate, beautiful answer” given to reporters. [Fox News, Justice with Judge Jeanine, 5/13/17]

May 17

At Coast Guard Commencement Speech, Trump Complained That “No Politician In History … Has Been Treated Worse Or More Unfairly” By The Media. Trump, while speaking before the Coast Guard Academy as their commencement speaker, said that “no politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly” by the media. He added that he “didn't get elected to serve the Washington media.” From the May 17 speech:

DONALD TRUMP: Now I want to take this opportunity to give you some advice. Over the course of your life, you will find that things are not always fair. You will find that things happen to you that you do not deserve and that are not always warranted, but you have to put your head down and fight, fight, fight. Never, ever, ever give up. Things will work out just fine.

Look at the way I've been treated lately. Especially by the media. No politician in history, and I say this with great surety, has been treated worse or more unfairly. You can't let them get you down. You can't let the critics and the naysayers get in the way of your dreams. I guess that's why I won. Thank you. I guess that's why we won. Adversity makes you stronger. Don't give in, don't back down, and never stop doing what you know is right. Nothing worth doing ever, ever, ever came easy, and the more righteous your fight, the more opposition that you will face. [Media Matters, 5/17/17]

May 21

Tillerson Held Joint Press Conference In Saudi Arabia Without Inviting American Reporters. During Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, Tillerson held a press conference with the Saudi foreign minister, but failed to notify American reporters about it:

Tillerson held the press conference with the Saudi foreign minister, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, but it appeared that only foreign reporters were present. Journalists from the United States were left scrambling to figure out what happened.

The State Department later apologized, adding that it couldn't notify the press in time.

State Department spokesman R.C. Hammond said there was "not enough time to alert or make arrangements for U.S. media to participate."

"Steps were immediately taken to ensure a transcript could be produced and distributed to reporters. Ideally, members of the U.S. press corps should have had the option to attend the press conference and ask questions," he said.

[...]

Reporters later found a feed of the event that they used to transcribe Tillerson's remarks. The secretary spoke about President Trump's speech to the Muslim world on Sunday. [CNN.com, 5/22/17]

May 28

Trump: “Fake News” Is “The Enemy,” And It “Fabricated Lies” About White House Leaks And Ignored Congressional Race.

[Twitter, 5/28/17, 5/28/17, 5/28/17, 5/28/17]

Trump: “The Fake News Media Works Hard At Disparaging & Demeaning My Use Of Social Media Because They Don’t Want America To Hear The Real Story!”

[Twitter, 5/28/17]

Scavino Called The Wall Street Journal “#FakeNewsMedia” After Reporting That Trump’s Tweets Could Be Vetted By Attorneys. After The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump “is actively discussing major changes in the White House, including having lawyers vet his tweets” to “decide if any needed to be adjusted or curtailed,” Scavino tweeted that the Journal is part of the “#FakeNewsMedia” and has “terrible ‘sources.’”

[The Wall Street Journal, 5/27/17, Twitter, 5/28/17]

May 30

Trump: “Fake News” Outlets Have Been “Taken Over” By Reporting On Possible Collusion With Russia.

[Twitter, 5/30/17]

June 5

White House Staffers Berated Morning Show Hosts For Covering Trump’s Tweets Pushing The Muslim Ban. Conway and Gorka objected to questions about Trump’s tweets pushing the Muslim ban during morning show interviews. On NBC's Today, Conway lamented the "obsession with covering everything he says on Twitter and very little of what he does as president," while Gorka said on CNN’s New Day that co-host Chris Cuomo was being “irresponsible” for covering Trump’s tweets, repeatedly calling him obsessed. Gorka later tweeted that the interview showed that CNN was “truly #FAKENEWS.” [Media Matters, 6/5/17; Twitter, 6/5/17]

Huckabee Sanders Castigated Media For An “Obsession Over Every Detail Of The President’s Tweets,” Which Are To Get Around “Media Bias.” NBC’s Hallie Jackson asked Huckabee Sanders at the daily White House press briefing about “another top adviser” claiming the media are “obsessed” over Trump’s tweets, and whether she would characterize media coverage of them the same way. Huckabee Sanders said Trump’s tweets are a way to communicate “that isn’t filtered through media bias” before agreeing that the media “obsesses over” every detail of the president’s public communications. From the June 5 press briefing:

HALLIE JACKSON: You mentioned the president's tweets are -- essentially a way to get around the filter of the biassed media when it comes to his tweets, and he sees them as an important way to get his message out. Just this morning, another top adviser in this White House said that the media was obsessed with the president’s tweets, implying it didn’t matter. So I guess just philosophically, which is it? Do the president's tweets matter, or are they just something the media gets obsessed about?

SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS: I think that they matter in the sense that it gives him a communications tool, again, that isn't filtered through media bias. But at the same time, I do think that the media obsesses over every period, dot, as John was a perfect example earlier. He made a mistake. His colleague politely corrected him. If somebody from our administration had done the same, all hell would have broken loose and it would be the -- it’s just total, like, chaos and conundrum here at the White House. So I think it's just the obsession over every detail of the president's tweets. [White House Press Briefing, 6/5/17]

June 6

Trump: “The FAKE [Mainstream Media] Is Working So Hard Trying To Get Me Not To Use Social Media. They Hate That I Can Get The Honest And Unfiltered Message Out.”

[Twitter, 6/6/17]

Trump: “Sorry Folks, But If I Would Have Relied On The Fake News Of CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, [Washington Post] or [New York Times], I Would Have Had ZERO Chance Winning WH.”

[Twitter, 6/6/17]

June 9

Trump Criticized “Killer Networks That Treat Me So Badly As Fake News” In Joint Presser With Romanian President. During a June 9 press conference with Romania’s president, Trump criticized the “killer networks that treat me so badly as fake news.” From the joint press conference:

TRUMP: Who would like to ask -- should I take one of the killer networks that treat me so badly as fake news? Should I do that? Go ahead, Jon. Be fair, Jon.

JON KARL: Oh, absolutely.

TRUMP: Remember how nice you used to be before I ran? Such a nice man. [Press conference with Romanian president, 6/9/17]

June 11

Trump: “The #FakeNews [Mainstream Media] Doesn't Report The Great Economic News Since Election Day.”

[Twitter, 6/11/17]

June 13

Trump: “The Fake News Media Has Never Been So Wrong Or So Dirty. Purposely Incorrect Stories And Phony Sources To Meet Their Agenda Of Hate. Sad!”

[Twitter, 6/13/17]

Trump: “Fake News Is At An All Time High. Where Is Their Apology To Me For All Of The Incorrect Stories???”

[Twitter 6/13/17]

June 16

Trump: “The Fake News Media Hates When I Use” Social Media Because “I Can Go Around Them.”

[Twitter, 6/16/17]

June 19

White House Banned Audio Broadcasting Of Off-Camera Press “Gaggle.” CNN reported how the Trump administration had been undermining the daily White House press briefings for a week, explaining that on June 19 they banned journalists from broadcasting the audio of an off-camera “gaggle.” From the CNN article:

The White House press briefing has seen better days. Lately, in fact, the briefing is often not seen at all.

For four days last week, representatives for President Trump skipped the usual on-camera briefing to take questions off-camera. This wasn't the first time the White House had taken this step, but this month has brought an added twist.

In response to networks like CNN that decided to broadcast audio of the briefing, even without a visual to accompany, the White House barred attendees from doing that, too. Monday's briefing -- the White House termed it a "gaggle," a more informal set-up, though it took place in a format much like a briefing -- was likewise off-camera, with audio broadcasting forbidden. [CNN.com, 6/19/17]

June 20

Trump: “Well, The Special Elections Are Over And Those That Want To MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN Are 5 And O! All The Fake News, All The Money Spent = 0.”

[Twitter, 6/20/17]

June 21

Spicer Blamed Reduced On-Camera White House Press Briefings On Reporters Wanting To Be “YouTube Stars.” Spicer criticized White House correspondents for wanting to be “YouTube stars” when explaining the Trump administration’s decision to scale back daily press briefings in an interview with right-wing talk radio host Laura Ingraham. From a June 21 LifeZette report on his interview:

"There's a lot of them that want to become YouTube stars and ask some snarky question that's been asked eight times. And that's right, that's their right to do that. But it's our job to make sure that we're providing updates and readouts of what the president is doing and the advances he is making on his agenda," Spicer continued. "And so there is a bit of snarkiness now with the press because, again, a lot of them are more focused about getting their clip on air than they are of actually taking the time to understand an issue." [LifeZette, 6/21/17]

Trump Attacked NBC And “Fake News” At Iowa Rally. During his June 21 rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Trump called NBC News “this phony NBC television network” for its coverage of the Georgia congressional special election. He also attacked “the fake news.” [Media Matters, 6/21/17; The New York Times, 6/21/17]

Conway: Media “Have This Russian Concussion” And Are Unable To Report On What Americans Want. Conway claimed that media “have this Russian concussion” and don’t focus on what “is important to” Americans. From the June 21 edition of Fox News’ Hannity:

KELLYANNE CONWAY: During the campaign I used to say that there’s this total disconnect between what Americans are telling us is important to them, and and what they’re being told is important to them. And I see it again now that he's president. The media and the Democrats have this Russian concussion and they’ve lost, like, muscle memory to be able to function in any other way to talk about anything he's doing. [Fox News, Hannity, 6/21/17]

June 22

Huckabee Sanders Questioned Media’s Use Of Anonymous Sources In Response To Press Briefing Criticism.

[Twitter, 6/22/17]

June 25

Spicer: “I Think Some Of These Reporters Are More Interested In Their YouTube Clips Than They Are In Getting Factual News.” Spicer dismissed criticism by CNN’s Jim Acosta over his ban on media outlets from airing White House press briefings by claiming some reporters just want “YouTube clips” instead of answers to their questions. He also questioned whether reporting based on anonymous sources is genuine. From the June 25 edition of Fox News’ MediaBuzz:

HOWARD KURTZ (HOST): And speaking of CNN, correspondent Jim Acosta -- who you’ve tangled with a few times -- said that -- he’s gone on a kind of campaign against you. He said the briefings are now kind of useless, the White House is stonewalling, why should reporters bother attending?

SEAN SPICER: Well it's sad that if he believes that if it doesn't occur on TV -- I think some of these reporters are more interested in their YouTube clips than they are in getting factual news. You look at the number of questions that get asked over and over again just so a reporter can get a clip of themselves saying something or yelling at someone. That’s not --

KURTZ: So the camera makes it repetitive.

SPICER: I think it not only makes it repetitive, but again, there’s a mix. I think the cameras are fine and there’s an opportunity to have that. But I think you can equally -- on days when the president’s speaking, have an off-camera briefing where you have a substantive engagement on policy issues. But to suggest if somehow it's not on television -- it's somewhat nonsensical. Many of these reporters use anonymous sources and write up things, and yet I can make an equal argument that that doesn’t sound like news to me. We engage with the press corps very robustly from early in the morning to late at night. The briefing is one small part of what this extensive staff does to engage with the media. [Fox News, MediaBuzz, 6/25/17]

June 27

Trump Wrote Several Tweets Bashing CNN For Retracted Russia Investigation Story And Attacked Broadcast Networks And Major Newspapers As “Fake News.” After CNN published and then retracted a story about a Trump official's links to a Russian investment fund -- where three employees responsible for the story later resigned -- Trump wrote or retweeted several tweets lambasting CNN over the incident, also writing that the broadcast news networks, The New York Times, and The Washington Post are “all Fake News”:

[CNN.com, 6/26/17; Twitter, 6/27/17, 6/27/17, 6/27/17, 6/27/17]

Huckabee Sanders Attacked CNN For Retracted Report And Encouraged Reporters To View Conservative Activist’s Smear Video Of CNN. Huckabee Sanders attacked CNN for its retracted report and complained about “the constant barrage of fake news” directed at Trump, claiming that CNN has been “repeatedly wrong” on other stories, and urging reporters to view a smear video by disgraced conservative activist James O’Keefe that targeted CNN. From the June 27 press briefing:

CHARLIE SPIERING: Recently, Breitbart News challenged the accuracy of a CNN story, and afterwards it was retracted, deleted, and the editors responsible were fired, as well as the network apologized for the story. The target of this -- one of the targets of the story accepted the apology. The President went on Twitter this morning and repeated that CNN was fake news. Why isn’t their response good enough for the President?

SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS: I don’t know that it’s that the response isn’t good enough for the President. I think it’s the constant barrage of fake news directed at this President probably that has garnered a lot of his frustration. You point to that report; there are multiple other instances where that outlet that you referenced has been repeatedly wrong and had to point that out or be corrected.

There’s a video circulating now, whether it’s accurate or not I don’t know, but I would encourage everybody in this room, and, frankly, everybody across the country to take a look at it. I think if it is accurate, I think it’s a disgrace to all of media, to all of journalism. I think that we have gone to a place where if the media can’t be trusted to report the news, then that’s a dangerous place for America. And I think if that is the place that certain outlets are going, particularly for the purpose of spiking ratings, and if that’s coming directly from the top, I think that’s even more scary and certainly more disgraceful. And I hope that that’s not the direction we’re headed. I hope that outlets that have continued to use either unnamed sources, sometimes stories with no sources at all. We’ve been going on this Russia-Trump hoax for the better part of a year now with no evidence of anything.

Things like the success at the VA barely get covered. They may get covered for an hour at a time, but this story gets covered day in, day out. And I think America is, frankly, looking for something better. They’re looking for something more. And I think they deserve something better from our news media. [White House press briefing, 6/27/17; Media Matters, 6/27/17]

Huckabee Sanders Continued Bashing Press After Getting Called Out For “Inflaming Everybody” With The Administration’s Constant Attacks On The Media. Brian Karem, executive editor of The Sentinel Newspapers, called out Huckabee Sanders for being “inflammatory to people all over the country” by attacked the press. She retorted that “it’s the dishonesty that often takes place by the news media” that’s being “inflamed.” From the June 27 press briefing:

SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS: And all we’re saying is I think that we should take a really good look at what we are focused on, what we are covering and making sure that it’s actually accurate and it’s honest. If we make the slightest mistake, the slightest word is off, it is just an absolute tirade from a lot of people in this room. But news outlets get to go on day after day and cite unnamed sources, use stories without sources, have -- you mentioned the [Anthony] Scaramucci [CNN] story where they had to have reporters resign.

BRIAN KAREM: Sarah, that’s -- come on. You’re inflaming everybody right here and right now with those words. This administration has done that as well. Why in the name of heavens -- any one of us, right, are replaceable, and any one of us, if we don’t get it right, the audience has the opportunity to turn the channel or not read us. You have been elected to serve for four years at least. There’s no option other than that. We’re here to ask you questions, you’re here to provide the answers, and what you just did is inflammatory to people all over the country who look at it and say, “See, once again, the President is right and everybody else out here is fake media.” And everybody in this room is only trying to do their job.

HUCKABEE SANDERS: Well, I just -- I disagree completely. First of all, I think if anything has been inflamed, it’s the dishonesty that often takes place by the news media. And I think it is outrageous for you to accuse me of inflaming a story when I was simply trying to respond to his question. [White House press briefing, 6/27/17]

Trump Made Sexist Remark About Irish Reporter While On The Phone With Ireland’s Prime Minister. As Trump was being videotaped on a phone call with Ireland’s new prime minister, he called RTÉ News reporter Caitriona Perry to his side and commented into the phone, “she has a nice smile on her face so I bet she treats you well.” [BBC News, 6/28/17]

June 28

Trump Accused “The Failing” New York Times Of Writing A “False Story” About His Involvement In Republicans’ Health Care Effort. After The New York Times published an article with the headline “On Senate Health Bill, Trump Falters in the Closer’s Role,” Trump lashed out at the “failing” newspaper on Twitter, accusing it of writing a “false story” about him. One of the article’s writers, White House correspondent Glenn Thrush, replied to Trump on Twitter, writing that the newspaper “spoke to many, many, many members of your staff” and “ran everything by your team.”

[The New York Times, 6/27/17; Twitter, 6/28/17, 6/28/17, 6/28/17]

Trump: “The #AmazonWashingtonPost, Sometimes Referred To As The Guardian Of Amazon Not Paying Internet Taxes (Which They Should) Is FAKE NEWS!”

[Twitter, 6/28/17]

White House Barred Reporters From Trump Fundraiser After Originally Telling Them They Would Be Allowed To Cover It. CNN reported that the White House announced that Trump’s June 29 fundraiser at his Washington, D.C., hotel would be covered by the White House press pool, but then barred them two hours later, citing “logistical challenges bringing in the press.” The CNN story noted that preventing reporters from covering the event was “a break from past precedent.” [CNN.com, 6/29/17]

Trump Reportedly Was “Ripping Into CNN” During Closed Fundraiser Remarks. Trump reportedly was “ripping into CNN” in remarks he delivered at his re-election fundraiser, which media were banned from covering, according to Politico. From the June 28 article:

Speaking for about 30 minutes at the closed-door event, according to two people present, the president continued to bash a favorite target — the media, and, in particular, CNN. Trump derided the network for errors and presented himself as a victim of its reporting, which he described as deeply unfair. At one point, the president turned his fire on one of the network’s liberal commentators, Van Jones. [Politico, 6/28/17]

June 29

Scavino: “#DumbAsARockMika [Brzezinski] and lover #JealousJoe [Scarborough] Are Lost, Confused & Saddened Since” Trump “Stopped Returning Their Calls! Unhinged.”

[Twitter, 6/29/17]

Trump: “I.Q. Crazy Mika” Brzezinski And “Psycho Joe” Scarborough “Insisted On Joining Me” At Mar-A-Lago While Brzezinski “Was Bleeding Badly From A Face-Lift.” A little more than 30 minutes after Scavino attacked the MSNBC hosts on Twitter, Trump tweeted that he turned “I.Q. Crazy” Brzezinski and "Psycho Joe" Scarborough away from a New Year’s Eve Mar-a-Lago party, and claimed that Brzezinski "was bleeding badly from a face-lift.” According to a CNN report, Trump’s claim was false.

[Twitter, 6/29/17, 6/29/17; CNN.com, 6/29/17]

Huckabee Sanders Justified Trump’s Attack On Brzezinski’s Appearance And Blamed Media For Press Briefing Restrictions. Huckabee Sanders justified Trump’s attack on Brzezinski’s appearance stating "I don't think the president's ever been someone who gets attacked and doesn't push back," adding he was someone who “fights fire with fire.” Huckabee Sanders also defended the Trump administration’s restrictions on the daily White House press briefings, claiming “the behavior of the press corps” is better when cameras are off. From the June 29 edition of Fox News’ America’s Newsroom:

BILL HEMMER (CO-HOST): What is the White House saying about why that went out?

SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS: Look, I don't think that the president's ever been someone who gets attacked and doesn't push back. There have been an outrageous number of personal attacks, not just to him but to frankly everyone around him. Please on that show have personally attack me many times. This is a president who fights fire with fire and certainly will not be allowed to be bullied by liberal media and the liberal elites within the media or Hollywood or anywhere else.

HEMMER: I get it but is -- is that necessary?

HUCKABEE SANDERS: Look, I think what's necessary is to push back against unnecessary attacks on the president both personally. I’ve seen far worse things come out of that show. Again, directed not just at the president but everyone around him, personal attacks, mean, hateful attacks. And again, this president isn’t going to sit back and not push back and he’s going to fight fire with fire and I think that's exactly what he just said.

HEMMER: I’ve heard that from you and I’ve heard that from him. But it seems like it is entirely more personal than it needs to be. And I'm wondering if you want to address that.

HUCKABEE SANDERS: I think I have addressed that as much as I can in terms of the president. Again, isn't going to be somebody who’s bullied and allows people, himself, and those around him to be personally attacked.

HEMMER: And he would argue that he’s always going to punch back and he’s not going to fire the first shot and perhaps he feels the criticism toward him is unwarranted. But going to this --

HUCKABEE SANDERS: I mean the outrageous attacks that take place on that show, day in, day out, not just at the president, and not against his policies, not against things that he’s pushing, but they’re personal and they’re not just directed at him, but again, everyone around them. I’ve been called a lot of names on that show that don't have anything to do with my beliefs or ideology or policy, but they’re personal attacks.

[...]

HEMMER: We’re about to do a segment in a moment with the argument that some former press secretaries, Republican and Democrat alike, are arguing now that the press briefings have become a public slow. First of all, do you think that's the case?

HUCKABEE SANDERS: I think oftentimes given that I’ve seen the difference between the behavior of the press corps, whether it's on camera and off camera, the temperature, the tone definitely comes way down. I think off camera briefings tend to have a lot more substance than on camera. Because it does become more about theatrics and the show and the yelling and the gotcha questions. And so I do think that there is a great point and a great part of being able to have a mix of doing both on and off camera. [Fox News, America’s Newsroom, 6/29/17]

Trump Called CNN “Fake News” During Speech At Department Of Energy. During a speech on his energy proposals, Trump called CNN “fake news” for suggesting that the U.S. “could only solve this energy crisis by imposing draconian restrictions on energy production”:

DONALD TRUMP: Americans were told that our nation could only solve this energy crisis by imposing draconian restrictions on energy production. But we now know that was all a big, beautiful myth. It was fake. Don’t we love that term, "fake"?  What we’ve learned about fake over the last little while -- fake news, CNN. Fake. [CNN, CNN Newsroom, 6/29/17]

June 30

Morning Joe Hosts Alleged Trump Attempted To Blackmail Them With A National Enquirer Story. MSNBC hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski alleged that “this year, top White House staff members warned that the National Enquirer was planning to publish a negative article about us unless we begged the president to have the story spiked.” [Media Matters, 6/30/17]

In Response To Morning Joe Hosts Claim, Trump Called The Show "Low Rated" And “FAKE NEWS.”

[Twitter, 6/30/17]

July 2017

July 1

Trump Alleged Greta Van Susteren Was “Let Go” From MSNBC “Because She Refused To Go Along W/ ‘Trump Hate’” From Her “Out Of Control Bosses."

[Twitter, 7/1/17]

Trump: “Crazy Joe Scarborough And Dumb As A Rock Mika Are Not Bad People, But Their Low Rated Show Is Dominated By Their NBC Bosses.”

[Twitter, 7/1/17]

Trump Claimed The “FAKE & FRAUDULENT NEWS MEDIA” Are Trying To Convince Republicans He Shouldn’t Use” Social Media.

[Twitter, 7/1/17, 7/1/17]

Trump: “I Am Thinking About Changing The Name #FakeNews CNN To #FraudNewsCNN!”

[Twitter, 7/1/17]

Trump: “The Fake Media Tried To Stop Us From Going To The White House, But I’m President And They’re Not.” Trump lashed out at the press during a rally at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., telling the crowd “the press has destroyed themselves because they went too far.” He added, “Instead of being subtle and smart, they use the hatchet.”  From the July 1 speech:

DONALD TRUMP: The fake media is trying to silence us, but we will not let them, because the people know the truth. The fake media tried to stop us from going to the White House, but I'm president and they're not.

We won and they lost. The fact is the press has destroyed themselves because they went too far. Instead of being subtle and smart, they use the hatchet and the people saw it right from the beginning. The dishonest media will never keep us from accomplishing our objectives. On behalf of our great American people, will never happen. Their agenda is not your agenda. You've been saying that. [YouTube, 7/1/17]

July 2

Trump Tweeted Video Of Him Knocking Over Person With CNN Logo Imposed On Face.

[Twitter, 7/2/17]