Veteran journalist: Trump’s media attacks undermine ‘foundations of our democracy’

Veteran CBS journalist Bob Schieffer said during an appearance on CNN’s “Reliable Sources” on Sunday that President Trump’s attacks on media outlets are “undermining the foundations of our democracy.”

Asked by host Brian Stelter how much he reads into Trump’s comments on the media, Schieffer said he doesn’t “pay much attention to that kind of stuff.”

“What I do take seriously is when he [Trump] tries to destroy the credibility of the media,” Schieffer said. “An independent press that can gather information that people can compare to the government’s versions of events — that is what we do.”

{mosads}“It is as crucial to our democracy as the right to vote,” the former host of “Face the Nation” added. “And when people try to undermine that, I think they are undermining the foundations of our democracy.”

Last week, Trump said the federal government should “challenge” the broadcast licenses of “distorted and fake” networks.

“Network news has become so partisan, distorted and fake that licenses must be challenged and, if appropriate, revoked,” he wrote on Twitter. “Not fair to public!”

Network news has become so partisan, distorted and fake that licenses must be challenged and, if appropriate, revoked. Not fair to public!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 12, 2017

During an Oval Office meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday, he also told reporters it’s “disgusting the press is able to write whatever it wants to write.”

Two top House Democrats called for Congress to hold public hearings on Trump’s threats, saying they “may already be chilling free-speech across the country.”

FCC commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said Sunday that the agency must abide by the First Amendment and won’t revoke any licenses.

“I think it’s important for all the commissioners to make clear that they support the First Amendment,” she said.

“And that the agency will not revoke a broadcast license simply because the president is dissatisfied with the licensees’ coverage.”