Sen. Jeff Flake accused President Trump of trying to “attack” and “manipulate” the press in a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday.
“When a figure in power reflexively calls any press that doesn’t suit him ’fake news,’ it is that person who should be the figure of suspicion not the press,” Mr. Flake, Arizona Republican, said.
Mr. Flake called on Mr. Trump to realize his mistake in branding the media as “fake,” but said his fellow senators act as a check on the president when he makes such statements.
“I dare say that anyone who has had the privilege and awesome responsibility to serve in this chamber knows that these reflexive slurs of fake news are dubious at best,” the senator said.
Mr. Flake’s speech comes on the same day Mr. Trump is slated to announce the so-called “fake news awards.” The ceremony was set to take place last week, but was bumped to Wednesday. It is on his schedule as a “potential event” meaning it may not happen at all.
The Arizona senator also criticized Mr. Trump for attacking the truth and disparaging the office of the presidency.
“Mr. President, so powerful is the presidency that the damage done by the sustained attack on the truth will not be confined to this president’s time in office,” he said.
“We know well no matter how powerful, no president will ever have dominion over objective reality. No politician will ever tell us what the truth is and what it is not,” he added.
This is not the first time Mr. Flake has made a formal address criticizing Mr. Trump. Mr. Flake said the political divisiveness created by Mr. Trump made him decide not to seek re-election.
• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.
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