President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of the media on Friday, delivering some of his most forceful accusations yet. Speaking at the Department of Justice, he baselessly claimed that major news organizations, including CNN, were engaging in corrupt and illegal activities.
During his speech, Trump praised Florida district court Judge Aileen Cannon, whom he had appointed in 2020. Cannon ruled in his favor in January, preventing the Department of Justice from sharing a report regarding Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents with Congress.
Trump alleged that the media had unfairly targeted Cannon for this ruling, though he provided no evidence to support his claim. “They do it all the time with judges,” he stated, adding that media outlets “will write whatever these people say.”
“The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and MSDNC, and the fake news, CNN and ABC, CBS and NBC, they’ll write whatever they say,” Trump asserted. “And what do you do to get rid of it? You convict Trump.”
Trump further declared that such reporting was illegal, addressing Justice Department employees directly. “It’s totally illegal what they do,” he said. “I just hope you can all watch for it, but it’s totally illegal.”
Although Trump did not initially clarify who he was referring to, he later accused CNN and MSNBC of being “political arms of the Democrat Party.” He added, “In my opinion, they’re really corrupt.”
Both CNN and MSNBC declined to comment on his remarks.
Trump opened his speech by lauding the Justice Department’s past efforts in fighting organized crime. He claimed that under his leadership, the agency would return to its core mission of pursuing “killers, kingpins and spies,” as well as tracking down “terrorists and traitors” and dismantling “corrupt political machines all across America.”
Trump’s insistence on using the Justice Department in this manner aligns with his belief that the Biden administration has unfairly weaponized the agency against him. He claimed, “They weaponized the vast powers of our intelligence and law enforcement agencies to try and thwart the will of the American people.”
However, reports indicate that Trump’s claims lack merit. His two federal indictments were brought by special counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed in November 2022 by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland. While Garland was appointed by President Joe Biden, there is no evidence to suggest Biden personally influenced or ordered the indictments against Trump.
In his speech, Trump cited alleged instances of the Justice Department’s supposed weaponization, but he only mentioned cases that directly impacted him or referenced conspiracy theories popular among far-right circles—many of which have been debunked or are misleading.
Trump’s rhetoric built on his long-standing efforts to frame the press as an adversary to both the people and the government. His message appeared to be that media organizations whose coverage he dislikes could face consequences under a Justice Department reshaped by his administration.
Trump’s willingness to target unfavorable media coverage is not new. He is currently engaged in a civil lawsuit against the Pulitzer Board over its decision to uphold the 2018 National Reporting Prize awarded to The Washington Post and The New York Times for their coverage of Russian interference in the 2016 election and its alleged links to his campaign.
In December, ABC News reached a $15 million settlement in a defamation case brought by Trump. Meanwhile, Paramount Global, which owns CBS News, is still dealing with a Trump lawsuit related to its “60 Minutes” interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Additionally, Trump has imposed a ban on the Associated Press, barring it from the Oval Office and Air Force One over its continued use of the term “Gulf of Mexico.”
Certain government agencies under the Trump administration have also signaled their intent to sever ties with media outlets he disfavors. In February, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the administration would cancel $8 million in Politico Pro subscriptions, citing a far-right conspiracy theory as justification.
On Friday, NPR reported that the U.S. Agency for Global Media had terminated its contracts with the Associated Press (AP) and Agence France-Presse (AFP). The agency also indicated it would allow its Reuters contract to expire on March 31.
Trump’s speech made clear that these actions are not isolated decisions but part of a broader campaign against the press—one that he appears intent on continuing and even escalating.
