Donald Trump‘s war on the press has been long. To supporters, it’s been funny. To everyone else, it’s been a terrifying attack on one of the most fundamental elements of our functioning democracy, which calls back to a similar discrediting that took place in Nazi Germany. Today, in a joint conference with NATO’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, Vice President Mike Pence tried to assuage those fears.
“Rest assured both the president and I strongly support both a free and independent press,” he said, “but you can anticipate that the president and all of us will continue to call out the media when they play fast and loose with the facts.”
He went on to reference Trump’s “unique ability” to speak directly to Americans. Was he talking about Trump’s Twitter? Just this morning, Trump used his Twitter to communicate his thoughts on the “FAKE NEWS media” with the American people.
So, they respect the press but still plan to play offensively against it, claiming they’re actually on defense.