Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Trump Revokes WaPo's Access To His Campaign

Donald Trump has blocked Washington Post reporters from receiving press credentials to his campaign events, citing the publication's "incredibly inaccurate coverage."

"Based on the incredibly inaccurate coverage and reporting of the record setting Trump campaign, we are hereby revoking the press credentials of the phony and dishonest Washington Post​," the presumptive Republican presidential nominee wrote on his Facebook page Monday.

The Washington Post reports Trump has previously denied press credentials to reporters and publications his campaign deems unfair, including Politico and the Des Moines Register.

Last month, Washington Post editor and veteran journalist Bob Woodward revealed that the paper had assigned 20 of its reporters to begin investigating "every phase of [Trump's] life" as the billionaire prepared for the general election.

The Post's executive editor Marty Baron responded:
"Donald Trump's decision to revoke The Washington Post's press credentials is nothing less than a repudiation of the role of a free and independent press. When coverage doesn't correspond to what the candidate wants it to be, then a news organization is banished. The Post will continue to cover Donald Trump as it has all along -- honorably, honestly, accurately, energetically, and unflinchingly. We're proud of our coverage, and we're going to keep at it."
Monday's announcement follows a pattern. Trump has repeatedly refused to give press credentials to major news outlets when he disagrees with coverage decisions.

Trump was apparently outraged by this Post headline: "Donald Trump suggests President Obama was involved with Orlando shooting."

According to CNN, the headline was the result of an interview Trump gave to Fox News on Monday morning.
"Look, we're led by a man that either is not tough, not smart, or he's got something else in mind," Trump said of Obama. "And the something else in mind -- you know, people can't believe it. People cannot, they cannot believe that President Obama is acting the way he acts and can't even mention the words 'radical Islamic terrorism.' There's something going on. It's inconceivable. There's something going on."
Trump's remarks about Obama were widely interpreted to be sinister in nature.

The WaPo later tamed the headline, so it now reads, "Donald Trump seems to connect President Obama to Orlando shooting."

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