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