Trump Tears Into Media at Pennsylvania Rally

'Only negative stories from the fakers back there'
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 3, 2018 2:35 AM CDT
Updated Aug 3, 2018 6:41 AM CDT
At Rally, Trump Slams 'Fake, Disgusting Media'
President Trump arrives at a rally, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018, at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes Barre, Pa.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Thundering that the media is the "fake, fake disgusting news," President Trump unleashed a torrent of grievances Thursday at a Pennsylvania campaign rally in which he cast journalists as his true political opponent. Trump barnstormed in a state that he swiped from the Democrats in 2016 and that is home to a Senate seat he is trying to place in the GOP column this fall. But the race between GOP US Rep. Lou Barletta and Democratic Sen. Bob Casey took a back seat to Trump's invectives against the media, which came amid a backdrop of antagonism to journalists from the White House and hostility from the thousands packed into a loud, overheated Wilkes-Barre arena, the AP reports.

"Whatever happened to the free press? Whatever happened to honest reporting?" Trump asked, pointing to the media in the back of the room. "They don't report it. They only make up stories." Time and time again, Trump denounced the press for underselling his accomplishments and doubting his political rise. He began his rally speech with a 10-minute remembrance of his 2016 election night victory, bemoaning that Pennsylvania wasn't the state to clinch the White House for him only because "the fake news refused to call it." "Only negative stories from the fakers back there," the president declared. With each denunciation, the crowd jeered and screamed at the press in the holding pen.

(More President Trump stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X