Trump suggests revoking reporters' credentials

President Donald Trump speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 9, 2018, during an event to celebrate military mothers and spouses. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President Donald Trump speaks in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 9, 2018, during an event to celebrate military mothers and spouses. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

WASHINGTON (AP) - In his latest volley against the free press, President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested reporters have their credentials revoked for reporting negative news about him, calling such reporting "fake."

In a tweet, Trump complained "despite the tremendous success we are having with the economy & all things else," most of the network news about him is "negative (Fake)."

"Why do we work so hard in working with the media when it is corrupt?" Trump went on to ask, adding: "Take away credentials?"

Reporters require credentials to access the White House grounds and cover the president's official and re-election campaign events.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders, however, insisted the administration is "very committed to a free press" and demonstrates that commitment through near-daily press briefings and access to the president.

Since the early days of his candidacy, Trump has railed against the media, going as far as to call it "the enemy of the people." He has also mused about changing libel laws to make it easier to sue reporters for inaccurate stories (though he has no such authority) and has blamed reporters for his low approval ratings.

During his campaign, Trump also barred reporters from certain news organizations, including the Washington Post and the Des Moines Register, from covering his rallies and news conferences in a move that was widely condemned by advocates for a free press.