Last month Donald Trump declared that he was banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from certain presidential press events because their truthful reporting about him hurt his tender feelings. It was a brazenly anti-constitutional assault on the First Amendment and a breach of his oath of office.

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While Trump is addicted to press coverage that makes him the perpetual center of attention, he cannot tolerate any reporting that is less than worshipful. Following his media ban, Trump doubled down by insisting that it was justified because the “fake” news was a “threat to national security.”

SEE THIS: Trump Says He Banned the Media Because it is a ‘Threat to National Security and Must Be Stopped’

Trump’s ban was immediately challenged in court. The case is still proceeding, but the judge, a Trump appointee, has issued a temporary restraining order to block Trump from executing the ban, which he said was “likely unconstitutional.”

In the meantime, Trump is now directing his “Justice” Department – led by his criminal defense lawyer, Attorney Genuflect Todd Blanche – to investigate the five television news networks that provide pool coverage of the president for agreeing to suspend coverage of Trump’s events until he rescinded the ban. As reported by the New York Times…

“Major TV networks were notified on Friday that the department was examining whether they violated antitrust laws when they suspended pool coverage of President Trump.”

“The Justice Department is investigating whether the major television networks — ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News — violated federal antitrust laws when the group briefly suspended their pooled coverage of President Trump, according to six people with knowledge of the department’s action.

“Officials from the Justice Department contacted networks on Friday and demanded communications and materials related to the White House TV pool, the people said.”

The allegation that these networks engaged in antitrust activity is beyond merely unwarranted government harassment, it has no basis in the law. Antitrust laws are intended to address collusion between corporate entities that seek to stifle competition for their own financial benefit. They have no role in regulating the media to inhibit the free press or political speech. In short, the purpose of antitrust law is to protect consumers from commercial abuse, not politicians from the exercise of First Amendment rights.

Trump’s exploitation of the power of the presidency to attack the media is nothing new. He is by far the most media averse president in American history. He frequently refers to the media in Stalinist terms as “the enemy of the people.” And he maligns them as “treasonous sleazebags.” He has filed dozens of civil lawsuits aimed at supressing journalists for honest reporting. And he has viciously attacked the media when it dared to be critical of him.

For instance, Trump recently blasted his Ministry of Propaganda, Fox News for not covering his cult rallies live. He directed his FCC boss (Fascist Communications Czar) to look into “fake” Polls. He reported the Meet the Press host to his FCC for “punishment.” And there’s much more where that came from.

Trump has lost virtually every legal attack he has made against the media when the media had the courage to fight back. And he is not likely to get anywhere with this ludicrous antitrust investigation. But that won’t stop him from trying. He truly believes that he is a beloved leader that can do no wrong. And while the vast majority of the American people disagree, his pitifully gullible cult disciples keep reinforcing his delusions.

RELATED STORIES:

• Trump’s Attorney Genuflect, Todd Blanche, Flat Out Lies About Trump Denying Access to the Media
• Trump Says the Media are ‘Sick, Treasonous, Demented’ ‘SLEAZEBAGS’ – Because They Cover Him?
• Trump Says ‘CNN is in a DEATH SPIRAL’ and That ‘Literally Nobody is Watching’ – Except Him?

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