Jen Psaki: Trump May Just Be Seen As 'Unhinged,' But He's Really 'Threatening The Free Press'

Jen Psaki: “So, Trump’s TRUTH Social post may have seemed unhinged and crazy and random and like you can ignore it, but it’s actually a threat to the free press, a threat to democracy. And that threat comes at a time when a record total of 533 journalists are currently detained worldwide. That’s according to Reporters Without Borders. A large number of them are being held by the sorts of authoritarian regimes that Trump envisions creating here at home. These are countries being led by his role models, like Russian president Vladimir Putin, who Trump called very savvy and a genius for his actions in Ukraine. In Russia, an American journalist Evan Gershkovich has been detained for 249 days, simply for doing his job. Trump has also repeatedly praised the leadership style of China's President Xi Jinping. Over 100 journalists are currently detained in China, and over the last couple of years, several foreign journalists from major outlets have been expelled entirely from the country. Putin and Xi are models for Trump, we know that. Leaders who jail and silence journalists, leaders who do not tolerate free speech — that’s what Trump is threatening. And if you don’t think he’s eager to use those tactics, if you don’t think he’s dying to silence his critics and the media, think again.”