Two hundred current and former members of the journalism industry signed an open letter condemning President Donald Trump’s rhetoric about the media and accusing him of inciting violence against the press. The missive was published Thursday.
“Trump’s condoning of political violence is part of a sustained pattern of attack on a free press – which includes labeling any reportage he doesn’t like as ‘fake news’ and barring reporters and news organizations whom he wishes to punish from press briefings and events,” the letter stated.
“We denounce Donald Trump’s behavior as unconstitutional, un-American and utterly unlawful and unseemly for the President of the United States and leader of the free world,” it continued.
U.S. President Donald Trump talks to reporters about the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey during a bill signing ceremony at the White House in Washington, U.S., October 23, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis
The letter referenced Trump’s praise of Republican Montana Rep. Greg Gianforte during his rally last week. Gianforte pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault after body slamming and punching The Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs the day before the Montana special election in May 2017. (RELATED: President Trump Boasts Rep. Greg Gianforte Body Slamming A Reporter)
It comes a day after multiple potentially explosive devices were sent to Democratic political figures and one of the primary offices for CNN. Some have tied the president’s rhetoric to the packages being sent.
This is not the first time journalists have come together against the president. In August, the Boston Globe reached out to hundreds of publications in an attempt to coordinate editorials condemning Trump’s labeling of the press as “the enemy of the people.”
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