Discussion on Press Freedom and Dissent

Uh, l- imagine if I had done any of this.

Let, let, let me just... I, I, I just, I just wanna be clear about this.

I, I, I, ima- imagine that...

Imagine if I had pulled Fox News' credentials from the White House Press

Corps.

You're laughing, but

no, th- this is what's happening.

Ima-

I- I- I- imagine if I'd, I'd said to law firms that were

representing parties that were upset with policies my administration

had

initiated,

that

you will not be allowed

into government buildings.

We will punish you economically

for dissenting

from

the Affordable Care Act

or the Iran deal.

We will ferret out

students

who protest against

my policies.

It's unimaginable

that the same parties that are silent now would have tolerated

behavior like that from me

or

a whole bunch of my predecessors.

So, uh, and I say this,

I say this

not

on a partisan basis.

This has to do with something

more precious,

which is:

who are we as a country, and what values do we stand for?