Trump defends record, blasts Democrats and NYT reporters after Air Force One subpoena controversy

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump, in a series of posts on Truth Social, launched a sweeping criticism of Democrats, major news organizations, and New York Times reporters on Saturday, July 11, one day after his administration subpoenaed several NYT journalists connected to reporting about security concerns involving the president's recently acquired Qatari-gifted Air Force One.

Trump defended his political record, highlighted his 2024 election victory, and accused the media of sustained negative coverage against him. He also directed personal criticism at NYT reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, whose new book 'Regime Change' examines internal political conflicts.

Trump renews attacks on media while defending election victory

Trump argued that years of critical coverage had failed to weaken his political support, saying his electoral success reflected declining public trust in major news organizations.

"It's incredible! I win the Election in a landslide against the entire Dumocrat Party, and almost 100% negative news," the Republican leader wrote. He added that his victory demonstrated that the media “has no credibility.”

Trump also claimed that major media organizations were losing audiences because of what he described as biased reporting: "All of their Readership, Ratings, and Viewership, are 'tanking' because the Public understands they are, as I have said right from the beginning, 'Fake News!'" 

He further criticized several television networks and newspapers, including CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC and The Wall Street Journal, arguing that their readership and ratings were declining because the public viewed them as lacking credibility.

"With only bad Press and Fake News, I won the Presidential Election. Therefore, the Media has no credibility!" the 80-year-old wrote in a separate post.  

The posts came a day after the administration also subpoenaed several journalists following reporting that cited concerns the president's Boeing 747-8 aircraft lacked some of the advanced defensive systems installed on the existing Air Force One fleet.

Trump targets Democrats and New York Times reporters

Alongside his criticism of the media, Trump sharply criticized Democrats, referring to them as the "Dumocrat Party" and accusing them of moving toward communism.

"The Dumocrats don't have what it takes, their Policies are wrong, and they are, generally, stupid people. They are going communist because they are a desperately 'sinking ship,'" the president wrote. 

A significant portion of Trump’s posts focused on NYT reporters Haberman and Swan. He referred to Haberman by a derogatory nickname, described Swan as her "lightweight assistant," and dismissed their upcoming book. "Maggot Hagerman has covered me incorrectly for ten years. Her book is a joke! 90% of it is Fake News," he wrote.  

Trump also referenced his ongoing lawsuit against the newspaper, writing that Haberman had built "a living off her bad reporting" and saying the publication would "pay the price" when his "Multi Billion Dollar Lawsuit against The Failing New York Times gets to Court."