Trump’s media-bashing is coming back to bite him in court

Judges have cited attacks on the press by the president and his appointees when ruling against the government in at least three court cases.

Posted Friday, April 3, 2026 9:35 am

Erik Wemple | The New York Times

President Trump in April 2025 posted some thoughts on Truth Social about public media, in all caps: “Republicans must defund and totally disassociate themselves from NPR & PBS, the radical left ‘monsters’ that so badly hurt our country!”

This was not a watershed moment. In both his social media posts and his off-the-cuff comments to reporters, Mr. Trump’s broadsides against traditional news outlets have become the tap water of his political rhetoric.

But they’re now haunting him in court.

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Trump’s media-bashing is coming back to bite him in court

Judges have cited attacks on the press by the president and his appointees when ruling against the government in at least three court cases.

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