Priebus: White House Has ‘Looked At’ Changing Law To Let Trump Sue Press

White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Oxon Hill, Md., Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2017 file photo, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus speaks in Oxon Hill, Md. Priebus asked top FBI officials to dispute media reports that President Donald Trump's campaign advisers wer... FILE - In this Feb. 23, 2017 file photo, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus speaks in Oxon Hill, Md. Priebus asked top FBI officials to dispute media reports that President Donald Trump's campaign advisers were frequently in touch with Russian intelligence agents during the election, according to three White House officials. Democrats accused Priebus of interfering in a pending investigation. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

White House chief of staff Reince Priebus on Sunday said that President Donald Trump’s administration has “looked at” changing the law so that Trump can sue the press, though Priebus offered few details.

ABC News’ Jon Karl questioned Priebus on “This Week” about Trump’s suggestion in March that he might “change libel laws” in order to go after the New York Times.

“That would require, as I understand it, a constitutional amendment,” Karl said. “Is he really going to pursue that?”

“I think it’s something that we’ve looked at, and how that gets executed or whether that goes anywhere is a different story,” Priebus said.

“So you think the President should be able to sue the New York Times for stories he doesn’t like?” Karl pressed.

“I think that newspapers and news agencies need to be more responsible with how they report the news,” Priebus said. “I am so tired.”

“I don’t think anyone would disagree with that,” Karl said. “It’s about whether or not the President should have the right to sue them.”

“And I already answered the question. I said this is something that is being looked at,” Priebus said. “But it’s something that, as far as how it gets executed, where we go with it, that’s another issue.”

 

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. Priebus kissing up to Trump just like Spicer because he knows Trump is watching.

  2. I thought the “White House is Looking At” distractions would end with the 100 days–maybe Reince had this one ready to dodge retrospective 100-day questions. Or maybe he’s off his game because he’s only accustomed to talking to reporters in the dark at midnight.
    Edit: Ex-Cruz-iatingly punchable

  3. Avatar for dont dont says:

    Putin and Erdogan are the examples he follows.

  4. Great! Yes, by all means President Trump!! Awaken the dreary ink-stained wretches from their amused slumber! We may finally rediscover journalism with more reporters in prison!

    Really, is this the garbage idiot Trump spends his short work days obsessing over? Yes, I’m most certain it is! Trump couldn’t get a mailbox moved down the block, let alone a Constitutional Amendment to severely curtail our freedom of the press and speech! Good luck, dimwit!

  5. Avatar for ajm ajm says:

    Snicker.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

233 more replies

Participants

Avatar for pluckyinky Avatar for overreach_this Avatar for charliee Avatar for jep07 Avatar for leftflank Avatar for squirreltown Avatar for gtomkins Avatar for mantan Avatar for borisjimbo Avatar for sanni Avatar for fiftygigs Avatar for dnl Avatar for darrtown Avatar for pshah Avatar for tena Avatar for beattycat Avatar for muddylee Avatar for antisachetdethe Avatar for awintexas Avatar for thinski Avatar for demosthenes59 Avatar for krux Avatar for justruss Avatar for outsidertrading618

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: