Senator John McCain is blasting President Trump's attacks on the press. In a "Washington Post" op-ed ahead of Trump's planned "Fake News Awards," the Arizona Republican said Trump's attacks have granted some legitimacy to efforts to silence the press around the world.
McCain wrote that in many places reporters face intimidation, violence and persecution from governments. McCain noted that 262 reporters were jailed in 2017, one of the most dangerous years recorded for journalists.
He said that American leaders have used their position to advocate freedom around the world, a duty the Trump administration has apparently abandoned.