Barack Obama had a blunt one-word response to Donald Trump’s decision to keep several news organizations out of the White House. The former president used the controversy to reflect on how some Americans view the basic demands of democracy.
Barack Obama reacts to Donald Trump banning press from White House
Former President Barack Obama has weighed in on Trump’s decision to bar several news organizations from the White House, calling the move “unimaginable.” Obama made the comments Friday during a conversation with Colgate University President Brian Casey. He pointed to Trump’s decision to bar CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House grounds, saying he could never have pictured such a move happening during his own presidency (via HuffPost)
“I’m trying to think what would have happened if I had said, ‘You know what, Fox News, you’re out of here!’ It’s unimaginable,” Obama said. The audience responded with laughter and applause as he contrasted Trump’s action with how his administration handled criticism from Fox News.
Trump announced the White House restrictions on CNN, MS NOW and Politico on Friday, accusing the outlets of publishing “FAKE NEWS.” The three organizations sued the Trump administration on Monday, alleging that the ban violated their First Amendment rights. Major television networks also suspended White House pool coverage after CNN was barred from its scheduled duties.
Obama’s own record came into the discussion because his Treasury Department once left Fox News out of a group of interviews with Kenneth Feinberg in 2009. Obama had previously described the network’s viewpoint as “destructive.” However, his administration quickly reversed the decision after bureau chiefs from other major networks refused to participate without Fox News. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press later said it was because of a miscommunication.
At Colgate, Obama also focused on Americans he described as a “certain cohort” who accept Trump’s press restrictions. He estimated that group at 30% to 35% of the country and argued that its response reflected a problem with understanding democracy.
