OPINION:
Donald Trump is the president of every American, including me. My question for those who support him: Is this really the kind of person you think should occupy the Oval Office and represent our nation on the world stage? Does President Trump display the decorum, humanity and decency we expect of all U.S. presidents, regardless of political party and ideology?
I ask this because of what transpired Tuesday in the White House and something that, unfortunately, has occurred on a regular basis.
During an Oval Office press conference with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Mr. Trump became irate when ABC’s Mary Bruce asked about U.S. intelligence linking the prince to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and later about the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Mr. Trump called ABC “fake news,” a “crappy company” and a “radical left network.” He also publicly told her she was a “horrible person” who should “go back and learn how to be a reporter” and called for the “network’s broadcast license to be revoked.”
Only a few days earlier, Mr. Trump had harshly scolded Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey, barking at her: “Quiet. Quiet, piggy.”
In neither instance did a male reporter come to the defense of his media colleague.
How can we tolerate this abhorrent and disgusting behavior? It’s time to stop normalizing a president who rhetorically abuses reporters, especially women.
RICHARD CHERWITZ
Ernest A. Sharpe centennial professor emeritus, Moody College of Communication
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas
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