The White House launched a “Hall of Shame” on its website as Trump escalated attacks on what he calls fake news. The portal delivers a blow to press freedom, claiming it prevents any hoax, anonymous story, or partisan smear from being forgotten.
News Outlets Face Public Scrutiny
The portal labeled The Washington Post as “Offender of the week” and criticized The New York Times, CNN, CBS News, and The Independent. Officials listed specific claims for each outlet and organized them into categories. Accredited agencies such as the Associated Press and Reuters also appeared, accused of bias, omission of context, or lying. The site includes circular reporting, failure to report, false claims, malpractice, mischaracterization, misrepresentation, and left-wing lunacy. Matt Murray, executive editor of the Post, condemned the government for targeting journalists exercising constitutional rights and pledged continued rigorous reporting.
Reactions and Threats to Democracy
The portal excluded conservative-leaning news outlets. The Media Research Centre praised the launch, claiming Republicans must identify adversarial media. Experts speaking to DW warned that targeting journalists endangers press freedom and threatens democracy. The website launched as Trump intensified his campaign against fake news, drawing criticism for insulting journalists, often women, calling them “ugly inside and out,” “stupid,” and “piggy.”
