The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Trump calls for end to anonymous sources
DonaldTrumphas used his first presidential appearance before the largest gathering of conservative activists in the US to sharply escalate his criticisms of the news media.
Taking direct aim at the use of anonymous sources, Mr Trump said reporters “shouldn’t be allowed to use sources unless they use somebody’s name”.
His comments came just hours after members of his ownstaff held a press briefing and refused to allow their names to be used.
“A source says that Donald Trump is a horrible, horrible human being, let them say it to my face,” Mr Trump told the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC).
Members of Mr Trump’s White House team regularly demand anonymity when talking to reporters. Mr Trump said he was not against all the press, just “the fake news media or press”.
“I’m against the people that make up stories and make up sources,” he said. “They shouldn’t be allowed to use sources unless they use somebody’s name.”
It wasa triumphal return toCPACforMrTrump, who was warmly welcomed by a crowd that gave him a more wary reception on his first appearance.
Six years ago he stepped on to the stage as the “money, money, money, money” chorus of his reality TV show theme song blared. The crowd was less than adoring, occasionally laughing and booing the former Democrat.
During his s peech yesterday, Mr Trump once again vowed to deport immigrants in the US illegally who have committed crimes.
He said that “as wespeak today, immigration officers are finding gang members, drug dealers and criminal aliens and throwing them the hell out”.
His declaration comes the day after he and one of his cabinet secretaries offered clashing takes on the nature of the deportation push.
Homeland security secretary John Kelly pledged in Mexico that the United States will not enlist its military to enforce immigration laws and that there will be “no mass deportations”.
But only hours earlier Mr Trumpsuggested the opposite, saying it would be a “military operation”.
Press secretary Sean Spicer later said Mr Trump used “military” as an adjective and was stressing “precision”.
Mr Trump also said he inherited a “failed health care law” in his address. He claimed it threatens the nation’s medical system with “total catastrophe”.
He reiterated his promise to repeal and replace the sweeping health care law signed into law by former president Barack Obama.