(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
Trump Now Threatening Broadcasters if They Say Bad Things About Him [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-09-18
In olden days, there was something called lèse-majesté:
[A]ny offense against a sovereign power or its ruler, from treason to a simple breach of etiquette, but lèse-majesté has also acquired a more lighthearted or ironic meaning, referring to something that insults or shows disrespect, especially to a particularly pompous or self-important person or organization. As such, it may be applied to a relatively inoffensive act that has been exaggeratedly treated as if it were a great affront.
Well, it certainly applies to the Muddled Excrescence, the Thin-Skinned Shitgibbon, the Temper-Tantrum-Throwing Toddler, who is the very model of “pompous” and “self-important.” But strike the “ironic” part of the definition; Trump is taking it seriously. Trump pressures broadcasters over critical coverage, escalating an attack on speech.
President Trump said on Thursday that regulators should consider revoking the licenses of broadcasters that air negative coverage or commentary of him, indicating that his assault on critics’ language is motivated at least in part by personal animus. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Mr. Trump called the networks “an arm of the Democrat party” who are out to get him. “I have read someplace that the networks were 97 percent against me, I get 97 percent negative, and yet I won and easily,” Mr. Trump said as he returned to Washington following a state visit to Britain, adding: “I would think maybe their license should be taken away.”
Leave aside the fact that if “the arm of the Democrat[sic] party” had done a proper job of journalism instead of covering up for the incompetent narcissist, he would be in jail instead of back in the White House. It is the job of the press, as protected by the First Amendment, to properly cover politics and politicians, both positive and negative. It serves the public interest. (For reference: FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, Who Threatened ABC Over Jimmy Kimmel Comments, Once Railed Against Policing Speech “In The Name Of The Public Interest” .)
Lord knows Trump has done a lot of things to be negative about. But now Trump is warning, Lord help anyone who says so.
Part of the mad king’s rage is directed at criticism of his policies, such as they are. But he also cannot stand, and greatly fears, criticism of his personality and personal actions. (Epstein! Epstein! Epstein!) All his attacks on free speech and freedom of the press have this double goal in mind. His policies are incoherent as his personality is malignant, and neither one can survive the light of exposure, much less ridicule.
Trump says he should be immune from criticism because he won. Here is a quote from LBJ, who really did win a landslide victory in 1964:
After being trashed numerous times by the Smothers Brothers, President Johnson wrote them, "It is part of the price of leadership of this great and free nation to be the target of clever satirists. You have given the gift of laughter to our people. May we never grow so somber or self-important that we fail to appreciate the humor in our lives."
Trump has no sense of humor, as has been noted many times over the years (except perhaps chortling over leaking classified info or cackling over family separations and drooling over images of his opponents behind bars). But this goes beyond lack of humor; it is hubris. Hubris with police power and military power and a cadre of toadies who have been chosen, however incompetent they may be, solely for their willingness to do whatever the Chief Toad desires.
Oh dear, was I committing Lèse-majesté just now?
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/9/18/2344346/-Trump-Now-Threatening-Broadcasters-if-They-Commit-L-se-majest?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web
Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/
