NYTpublisher warns Don against attacks
Sulzberger says Prez stance on media is ‘ dangerous, inflammmatory’
I told the President directly that I thought that his language was not just divisive but increasingly dangerous — A. G. Sulzberger,
Publisher of New York Times
Washington, July 29: The publisher of the New York Times has warned Donald Trump in a White House meeting that the President's escalating attacks on the news media are "inflammatory" and "dangerous and harmful to our country."
Mr Trump's meeting with A. G. Sulzberger, who took the reins of the prestigious newspaper on January 1, took place July 20, following a request from the White House for what appeared to be a routine get- to- know- you session.
The session, which also included Times editorial page editor James Bennet, had remained secret under mutual agreement until Mr Trump tweeted about it early on Sunday.
"Had a very good and interesting meeting at the White House with A. G. Sulzberger, Publisher of the New York Times," Mr Trump said on Twitter.
"Spent much time talking about the vast amounts of Fake News being put out by the media & how that Fake News has morphed into phrase, ' Enemy of the People.' Sad!"
Sulzberger, in a statement released by the Times, said the President's tweet effectively "put the meeting on the record," and he described what appeared to be an unusually tough and blunt session with the President.
"I told the President directly that I thought that his language was not just divisive but increasingly dangerous," Mr Sulzberger said.
"I told him that although the phrase ' fake news' is untrue and harmful, I am far more concerned about his labelling journalists ' the enemy of the people.' I warned that this inflammatory language is contributing to a rise in threats against journalists and will lead to violence."
With some foreign leaders using Mr Trump's language "to justify sweeping crackdowns on journalists, I warned that it was putting lives at risk."
Sulzberger concluded: "I implored him to reconsider his broader attacks on journalism, which I believe are dangerous and harmful to our country."