CNN anchor Jake Tapper has drawn attention to what he described as a contradiction in former President Donald Trump's stance on free speech and the press, suggesting Trump's actions do not align with his public statements. Tapper highlighted instances where Trump has advocated for free speech, including remarks about the necessity of free speech for a free country.
"Welllll, Mr. First Amendment has turned out to be anything but," Tapper remarked, according to HuffPost. Tapper cited Trump's alleged targeting of specific media figures and news organizations as evidence of this. He referenced the Justice Department's action of subpoenaing four New York Times journalists over their reporting on safety concerns related to a plane gifted to Trump by Qatar.
Additionally, Tapper mentioned the establishment of a task force by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to investigate leaks within the Pentagon, while noting Hegseth's own past involvement in the "Signal-gate scandal." Tapper characterized the targeting of reporters as "un-American" and part of a pattern of concerning actions.
The CNN anchor also recalled past instances during the Trump administration, such as a ban placed on Associated Press reporters. This ban reportedly occurred after the organization declined to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America," a term favored by Trump.