"The president has often referred to the press in this country as the enemy of the American people. Is he going to continue to say that?" asks @JudyWoodruff. @Marcshort45: "… I don't know if he is going to continue to use those words or not." pic.twitter.com/SIRzCQ7iBO

— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) June 29, 2018

White House Director of Legislative Affairs Marc Short was asked again tonight about President Trump‘s attacks on the media.

The discussion about rhetoric going after the press in the wake of the horrific Capital Gazette shooting has included reflections on the President’s own criticisms of the “fake news” and his statements that the fake news is the “enemy of the people.”

Earlier today, Short was asked on MSNBC whether the President should stop using that line.

Short started by saying everyone’s hearts go out to the victims and their families before telling Hallie Jackson it shouldn’t be political and also that MSNBC should “look into” Maxine Waters‘ rhetoric.

On PBS Newshour tonight, he was asked yet again:

JUDY WOODRUFF: The president has often referred to the press in this country as the enemy of the American people. Is he going to continue to say that?

SHORT: I think he’s often frustrated by coverage and the way that it’s perceived. I don’t know if he is going to continue to use those words or not, but I think we all mourn the loss of innocent life in Annapolis and I think we all hold those families in our prayers and wish as much healing as possible.

When asked if he agrees with the “enemy of the people” line, Short said the press “has a responsibility to make sure that they’re covering things as accurately and fairly as they can,” saying a free and fair press is “essential to American democracy.”

Watch above, via PBS.

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

from Mediaite https://ift.tt/2tQspNR