Instead of answering legitimate ethics questions, Trump goes to his playbook and lobs insults at a reporter
Holding the powerful to account. That’s a key role for journalists.
Among those in power are government officials. So whenever there is potential wrongdoing or misbehavior or shady business practices by our elected officials, it’s the duty of journalists to dig in and then confront those officials.
For example, what if the president of the United States were to be given, at no cost, a new jet from a foreign country? Let’s say that foreign country was, oh let’s see, Qatar. And that new jet would be used as Air Force One. Let’s say that jet is worth $400 million and, again, it’s just given to the president.
That at least would deserve a question or two about the ethics of it, wouldn’t you think? Shouldn’t a president be questioned about accepting such a gift? Shouldn’t we all be wondering what this country would want in return for such a lavish gift?
Related Knowledge Center: The White House vs. the press
Whether it’s the Des Moines Register’s publication of an unfavorable election poll, a routine edit of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, or the Associated Press’s decision in its authoritative stylebook to continue to use “Gulf of Mexico,” Donald Trump and the White House have used executive authority and legal reprisals in an effort to punish and suppress press coverage that runs contrary to the administration’s preferred narratives.
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