Trump: Mainstream Media Is Not Free Speech, People Who ‘Write Bad’ Are Dangerous

Ed Mazza
Updated

President Donald Trump on Thursday attempted to create his own definition of free speech that excludes the entire mainstream media.

Speaking at a White House-hosted “social media summit” populated by Trump supporters and a number of right-wing trolls, the president blasted the tech industry and social media companies and claimed they censor conservatives. Then, he attacked the media itself:

“See, I don’t think that the mainstream media is free speech either because it’s so crooked. It’s so dishonest. So to me, free speech is not when you see something good and then you purposely write bad. To me, that’s very dangerous speech, and you become angry at it. But that’s not free speech.”

Trump posted the comments on his Twitter feed. The remarks about free speech and the mainstream media begin at 46:30:

Trump’s latest attack on the First Amendment was not well-received on Twitter:

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The Backbone

Like a spine, the Constitution is long, flexible, made up of lots of pieces, and if it breaks, we’re paralyzed.
Like a spine, the Constitution is long, flexible, made up of lots of pieces, and if it breaks, we’re paralyzed.

Article II, Section I

To illustrate the article that defines the President’s office, Sam chose Washington and Lincoln, two Presidents whose greatness almost all Americans can agree on. He drew their faces close together so that one eye is shared between the two, hinting at how Lincoln saw Washington as a great influence.
To illustrate the article that defines the President’s office, Sam chose Washington and Lincoln, two Presidents whose greatness almost all Americans can agree on. He drew their faces close together so that one eye is shared between the two, hinting at how Lincoln saw Washington as a great influence.

Ratification

After the Constitution was written, it took nine months and an energetic nationwide debate before the nine needed states had voted for ratification. It wasn’t until 1789, over a year and a half after the signing, that the last of the original 13 states—Rhode Island—voted in favor of the Constitution.
After the Constitution was written, it took nine months and an energetic nationwide debate before the nine needed states had voted for ratification. It wasn’t until 1789, over a year and a half after the signing, that the last of the original 13 states—Rhode Island—voted in favor of the Constitution.

1st Amendment

As the founding text for separation of church and state, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and protest against government policies, the First Amendment may be the part of the Constitution that is referenced most often in daily conversation.
As the founding text for separation of church and state, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and protest against government policies, the First Amendment may be the part of the Constitution that is referenced most often in daily conversation.

2nd Amendment

The precise grammatical meaning of the Second Amendment, which concerns the “right of the people to bear arms,” has been a subject of legal contention for years. The lesson: commas matter, especially when weapons are involved!
The precise grammatical meaning of the Second Amendment, which concerns the “right of the people to bear arms,” has been a subject of legal contention for years. The lesson: commas matter, especially when weapons are involved!

19th Amendment

Part of the Constitution’s beauty is that it is a living document, capable of changing as people realize the nature of injustices. The 14th amendment, which ended slavery, and the 19th amendment, which extended the right to vote to women, are prime examples.
Part of the Constitution’s beauty is that it is a living document, capable of changing as people realize the nature of injustices. The 14th amendment, which ended slavery, and the 19th amendment, which extended the right to vote to women, are prime examples.

18th Amendment

Not every Constitutional amendment has stood the test of time. In 1919, Prohibition had enough support to be incorporated into the nation’s foundational document. Almost fifteen years later, it was repealed by the 21st Amendment.
Not every Constitutional amendment has stood the test of time. In 1919, Prohibition had enough support to be incorporated into the nation’s foundational document. Almost fifteen years later, it was repealed by the 21st Amendment.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.