Authoritarianism
Fox News Anchor Fires Back After Trump Attacks Colleagues: ‘Bullying Journalists Is Not Presidential’
Fox News anchor Julie Banderas on Monday fired back at President Donald Trump after he attacked her colleagues on Twitter.
Trump ripped into Fox News on Sunday, tweeting that a pair of its reporters has “even less understanding” of border wall negotiations than “the folks at FAKE NEWS CNN & NBC!”
“Never thought I’d say this but I think [John Roberts] and [Gillian Turner] have even less understanding of the Wall negotiations than the folks at FAKE NEWS CNN & NBC!” Trump tweeted, referring to two of the news network’s top correspondents.
Banderas slammed Trump in a series of tweets Monday, admonishing him for “bullying” and “insulting” her fellow journalists.
“This is NOT right,” she tweeted. “They don’t deserve this. No reporter does. They are doing their jobs and reporting the facts.”
She added: “Our jobs are not meant to please others. But the office of the @POTUS ought not to be the one lashing out. That’s not how this country works. That’s not how Freedom of the Press works. … Bullying journalists is not Presidential. Period.”
@realDonaldTrump This is NOT right. I stand by my colleagues @johnrobertsFox and @GillianHTurner They don’t deserve this. No reporter does. They are doing their jobs and reporting the facts. They are not opinion journalists and deserve the respect from the @WhiteHouse they cover. https://t.co/ftRPauopjC
— Julie Banderas (@JulieBanderas) January 28, 2019
We can and do stand plenty of criticism every day which is fine coming from everyday viewers. Our jobs are not meant to please others. But the office of the @POTUS ought not to be the one lashing out. That’s not how this country works. That’s not how Freedom of the Press works. https://t.co/buakHRRwPO
— Julie Banderas (@JulieBanderas) January 28, 2019
By going on Twitter and insulting two of our journalists @realDonaldTrump is putting a target on their backs. In turn his followers will then attack @johnrobertsFox and @GillianHTurner in support on Twitter. Bullying journalists is not Presidential. Period. https://t.co/xayShIojYj
— Julie Banderas (@JulieBanderas) January 28, 2019
I have always stood up for journalists no matter what network they work for. We all should support each other. https://t.co/ABE6UL7XRG
— Julie Banderas (@JulieBanderas) January 28, 2019
The president’s tweet targeted John Roberts and Gillian Turner for their coverage of Trump’s agreement on Friday to reopen the government after a 35-day partial shutdown, without funding for his proposed border wall.
