Declares media "the enemy of the American People" in authoritarian attack
Trump tweeted: "The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @CNN) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People!" This unprecedented declaration by a sitting U.S. president echoed the language of authoritarians and dictators who label free press as enemies of the state. The phrase "enemy of the people" has historical associations with Stalin's purges and totalitarian regimes. Republican Senator John McCain condemned the statement: "That's how dictators get started." Former CIA Director John Brennan called it "beyond the pale." The attack came amid increasing press scrutiny of Trump's ties to Russia and his chaotic first month in office. This rhetoric would embolden threats and violence against journalists throughout Trump's presidency, including the 2018 pipe bomb attacks on CNN and the increased harassment of reporters at Trump rallies.
“The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @CNN) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People!” — February 17, 2017 tweet declaring press the enemy of Americans
Analysis Feed
AI commentaryThe phrase 'enemy of the people' is historically associated with Stalin's USSR and totalitarian regimes that justify violence against dissidents and journalists.
By specifically naming mainstream news organizations, Trump encouraged his supporters to view legitimate journalism as an existential threat rather than a democratic necessity.
This rhetoric directly contributed to the climate that led to the 2018 MAGAbomber targeting CNN and to routine threats and harassment of journalists covering Trump.
The escalation from 'fake news' to 'enemy of the American People' marked a shift from criticizing coverage to delegitimizing the entire institution of free press.