At least 200 journalists, most of them retired or semi-retired, have signed on to a letter condemning President Trump’s attacks on the media and accusing him of inciting violence against the press.
“Trump’s condoning of political violence is part of a sustained pattern of attack on a free press — which includes labeling any reportage he doesn’t like as ‘fake news’ and barring reporters and news organizations whom he wishes to punish from press briefings and events,” the open letter reads.
The journalists, many from ABC News, criticize Trump for his recent comments praising Rep. Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) as “my guy” while discussing Gianforte’s body-slam of Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs last year.
{mosads}Former ABC News producer Meredith Wheeler told The Washington Post that she organized the effort, adding that the letter is still gathering signatures.
The retired journalists accuse Trump of “utterly failing” to uphold his oath of office, which includes a vow to protect the Constitution.
“[Trump is] actively working not simply to undermine the press, but to incite violence against it as well,” the letter reads.
“We denounce Donald Trump’s behavior as unconstitutional, un-American and utterly unlawful and unseemly for the President of the United States and leader of the free world,” they write.
The letter comes the day after authorities intercepted several pipe bombs that were mailed to top Democratic figures. CNN’s New York offices were also the target of one of the suspicious packages.
In comments at a Wisconsin rally Wednesday night, Trump condemned “political violence” and called for “peace and harmony” in the wake of the attempted attacks. He went on to apparently blame the media and Democrats for the current political climate, but did not mention his own repeated attacks on the press and his political opponents.
“The media also has a responsibility to set a civil tone and to stop the endless hostilities and constant negative and oftentimes false attacks and stories,” he said Wednesday.