NYT’s Dean Baquet: ‘Harmful’ for Trump to Attack the Press While Boosting Jesse Watters as ‘Serious Journalism’
New York Times Executive Editor Dean Baquet addressed President Donald Trump’s taste for right-wing newscasts — and the threat it poses on the American public — in an interview with CNN’s Brian Stelter on Sunday morning.
The head of the publication, which Trump has repeatedly referred to as the “Failing New York Times,” said the president has undermined real journalism nationwide throughout his presidency.
“If he creates a culture where Fox & Friends and Jesse Watters are regarded as serious journalism, and the Washington Post and the Times are not, he will have done long-standing harmful effect on the country.” Baquet said Sunday. “It’s out of control, and his advisers should tell him to stop.”
“It’s actually effect the civic life and debate of the country,” he added.
This morning, the President slammed the Washington Post while also praising Watters for his commentary last night:
“The FBI closed the case on Hillary, which was a rigged investigation. They exonerated her even before they ever interviewed her, they never even put her under oath…..” and much more. So true Jesse! @WattersWorld
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018
The Washington Post is far more fiction than fact. Story after story is made up garbage – more like a poorly written novel than good reporting. Always quoting sources (not names), many of which don’t exist. Story on John Kelly isn’t true, just another hit job!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018
Trump has regularly attacked the New York Times and other major newspapers in office, referring to several explosive reports regarding Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election as
“fake news.” Each of those reports published by the Times have proven to be verified, as Baquet noted Sunday.
Watch a clip of the exchange above, via CNN.
[image via screengrab]
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