After slamming 'fake' NBC News story, Trump reignites threats against the free press

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After slamming 'fake' NBC News story, Trump reignites threats against the free press

October 11, 2017

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President Trump skewered — you guessed it — the free press Wednesday, claiming NBC News' report that he asked for a "tenfold" increase of the nuclear arsenal was "pure fiction made up to demean."

Fake @NBCNews made up a story that I wanted a "tenfold" increase in our U.S. nuclear arsenal. Pure fiction, made up to demean. NBC = CNN!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2017

Trump added:

With all of the Fake News coming out of NBC and the Networks, at what point is it appropriate to challenge their License? Bad for country!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2017

There is technically no "license" to challenge; while "journalistic license" is a common phrase, it does not refer to a literal document that can be revoked. Instead, Trump's tweet has alarming authoritarian implications that immediately sparked widespread concern:

The president is suggesting using the power of the federal government against media who produce critical reporting. Full stop. https://t.co/eK8FILiHm3
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) October 11, 2017

Read NBC News' original report here.