President Donald Trump sought to soften his image as a staunch opponent of the free press on Friday, insisting that beneath his gruff exterior lies a journalism-friendly leader. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to his New Jersey golf resort, Trump declared, 'I have a lot of respect for the media, tremendous respect. Some of the greatest people I know are reporters, and people in the media.'
His comments came a day after a mass shooting at the Capital Gazette newsroom in Annapolis, Maryland, which left five people dead. Trump described the attack as 'terrible' and 'horrific,' pledging 'eternal support' for the victims' families. 'Journalists, like all Americans, should be free from the fear of being violently attacked while doing their job,' he said at a White House event.
Despite his conciliatory tone, Trump took a jocular swipe at outlets he has previously criticised, noting, 'Obviously, the press has treated me very badly. In the meantime, I'm president, so I guess they didn't treat me badly enough.' The president has a history of branding unfavourable coverage as 'fake news' and early in his presidency labelled the media 'the enemy of the American people.'
Trump's political rallies often include verbal attacks on reporters, with crowds frequently chanting 'Fake News!' and 'CNN Sucks!' His former senior strategist Steve Bannon once described the press as the White House's 'opposition party.'
The Capital Gazette staff managed to produce a full print edition on Friday despite the tragedy. The five victims were identified as assistant editor Robert Hiaasen, editorial page editor Gerald Fischman, special publications editor Wendi Winters, writer John McNamara and sales assistant Rebecca Smith.
