Letter: We cannot let Trump stifle the press
(Evan Vucci | The Associated Press) President Donald Trump speaks during an event on prison reform in the East Room of the White House, Friday, May 18, 2018, in Washington. Trump and his supporters are circulating an explosive theory: The FBI, they say, may have planted a mole inside their campaign to bring him down. The unverified allegation has lit up conservative media and earned space on Trump’s Twitter feed.
Shortly after coming to power in Germany, the Nazis moved to assume control over the press. The Editors Law, passed in October 1933, forbade Jews and their families from working in the profession, and it established mandates requiring editors to omit anything “calculated to weaken the strength of the Reich abroad or at home.” Those who failed to follow these mandates could be fired or even imprisoned.
President Trump’s relentless attacks on the press make it clear that he would be delighted to have his own “Editors Law.” From a very long list of examples, I shall cite just a few:
1. Any story that does not flatter him is “fake news.”<br>2. News organizations are “enemies of the American people,” and unsympathetic reporters are “scum,” “slime,” “disgusting” and “dishonest.”<br>3. He has sought to change libel laws to make it easier to sue reporters and news organizations who publish unflattering material.<br>4. He has threatened to
cancel the broadcast licenses of media companies that provide negative coverage of him.
Control of the press was an extremely important tool in the hands of the Nazis. We must do everything in our power to prevent such a disaster in our country.
Craig K. Rushforth, Kaysville
For over 150 years, The Salt Lake Tribune has been Utah’s independent news source. Our reporters work tirelessly to uncover the stories that matter most to Utahns, from unraveling the complexities of court rulings to allowing tax payers to see where and how their hard earned dollars are being spent. This critical work wouldn’t be possible without people like you—individuals who understand the importance of local, independent journalism. As a nonprofit newsroom, every subscription and every donation fuels our mission, supporting the in-depth reporting that shines a light on the is sues shaping Utah today.
You can help power this work.
Donate to the newsroom now. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax deductible