ABC News analyst: Trump ‘shutting down’ part of First Amendment by not calling on mainstream outlets – TheBlaze.com

ABC News analyst Matthew Dowd accused President Donald Trump Tuesday of shutting down part of the First Amendment because of his pattern of calling on conservative media outlets at White House news conferences.

Trump has held three news conferences in the last week alone as he welcomed three different world leaders to the White House: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The president took two questions from American media at each of those three events, the majority being conservative outlets.

During Trumps joint news conference Friday with Japanss Abe, he called on reporters from the New York Post and Fox Business Network, both of which are owned by conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch. In his second joint press conference Monday with Canadas Trudeau, Trump answered questions from WJLA-TV, the local ABC affiliate in Washington, D.C., and the Daily Caller. Then, during his appearance Wednesday with Netanyahu, Trump called on the Christian Broadcast Network and Townhall.com.

WJLA-TV is owned by Sinclair Broadcasting, the company with which President Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, struck a deal during the campaign that gave Sinclair stations, many of which were in swing states, more access to then-President-elect Trump, Politico reported.

Trumps decision to force mainstream media outlets to take a back seat caused a number of reporters and analysts at CNN, MSNBC and the three broadcast networks to voice their frustrations on air.

I think theres no other way to describe it but the fix is in, CNNs Jim Acosta said Wednesday, Hot Air reported. This White House, this president does not want to answer questions, critical questions about his associates, his aids contacts with the Russians during the course of that campaign just as his national security adviser is being run out of this White House on a rail.

They may think that this is being cute or they may think that this is strategic in terms of trying to shield the president from questions, but those questions can only be shielded for so long, Acosta added.

Acosta was referring to the New York Times report that members of Trumps campaign were in frequent contact with the Russian government. Namely, a Washington Post report revealed that Gen. Michael Flynn, who Trump named as his national security adviser, had called the Russian ambassador to the U.S. multiple times, which Flynn then lied about to Vice President Mike Pence, a move that ultimately led to Flynns resignation.

Acosta wasnt the only one who took issue with Trumps selection of media outlets, though. Dowd told theABCs George Stephanopolous that by not calling on mainstream media outlets, Trump was shutting down part of the First Amendment.

Noting the strategy behind Trump not calling on mainstream media reporters, Stephanopolous said the White House probably [doesnt] mind the fact that the mainstream press is shouting about it, referring to reporters shouting their questions at Trump he left the room after Thursdays joint news conference with Israels Netanyahu.

But how long can that last? Stephanopolous asked.

Dowd said he was struck by Trump only calling on conservative outlets.

This is two democracies, two important democracies in the world. And basically, the president of the United States is shutting down part of the First Amendment by not taking questions that are in any way antagonistic in this, Dowd said.

I think he thinks relying on his Twitter feed, and sending it out to the millions of people that subscribe to it, and then dealing with very cozy press in this is going to be the way to get through this, Dowd added.

(H/T: Daily Caller)

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