Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said his White House run has made him “more jaded,” notably toward the press, and appeared open to a system where the bar is lower to successfully sue reporters.
“I think in many ways I’ve become a little bit jaded, more jaded toward the press,” Mr. Trump said in an interview with a Miami CBS affiliate over the weekend.
“At the same time I’m so honored by having met so many people, millions of people throughout the country,” he said. “We have phenomenal people in this country. We have people; I mean I just love the people of this country. I love their spirit.”
Mr. Trump said he’s a “tremendous believer” in freedom of the press, but that the media in the United States “is allowed to say whatever they want and they can get away with it.”
“But if they make terrible, terrible mistakes and those mistakes are made on purpose to injure people — and I’m not just talking about me, I’m talking about anybody else — then yes, I think you should have the ability to sue them,” he said.
“Well, in England, you have a good chance of winning. And deals are made, and apologies are made,” he said. “Over here, they don’t have to apologize. They can say anything they want about you or me, and there doesn’t have to be any apology. England has a system where if they [are] wrong, things happen.”
Mr. Trump has also threatened to sue the women who have come forward in recent weeks and accused him of inappropriate touching or kissing years ago. He has steadfastly denied the charges, made by about a dozen women.
“This was made up out of thin air. This never happened. So we will see what we will see. But I am most worried about the fate of our country,” Mr. Trump said.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.