Back in campaign mode, Trump vows to defeat ‘dishonest’ media

Washington, February 19

President Donald Trump has said he wants to speak to Americans “without the filter of fake news” and vowed to expose the “dishonest media” as he returned to campaign mode less than a month after assuming the office.

The rally in Florida, similar in style to the ones during his presidential campaign, came on the back of an aggressive press conference in which Trump embarked on a lengthy tongue-lashing of the media.

He also defended the achievements of his presidency so far, insisting that a spirit of optimism was sweeping the US. A visibly frustrated and agitated Trump vowed to never let the media “get away with lies”.

“I will do whatever I can that they don’t get away with it,” he told around 9,000 supporters packed into an airport hangar in Melbourne, Florida. The President said he wanted speak to his supporters without the filter of “fake news”. He alleged that the media has its own agenda. “And their agenda is not your agenda.”

Though it wasn’t clear what exactly Trump was “campaigning” for, he sought to assure his supporters that all was well with his administration, rebutting allegations that there were differences within the White House.

The event organised by Trump’s 2020 re-election committee is just the latest example of the never-ending campaign culture in modern politics, experts say.

“You’ve seen what we’ve accomplished in a very short period of time. The White House is running so smoothly. So smoothly,” he said, repeating his claim that he had inherited “one big mess”.

“The dishonest media, which has published one false story after another, with no sources, even though they pretend they have them. They make them up in many cases,” he said. But despite “all the lies, misrepresentations and false stories”, the media could not defeat him in the election, he said, adding, “We will continue to expose them for what they are.” — PTI