Former President-elect Donald Trump took aim at The Wall Street Journal in a scathing statement, criticizing the publication for what he called biased and inaccurate reporting.
Trump’s comments were triggered by the paper’s headline, “Trump’s DEA Pick Pulls Out in Latest Setback,” which he described as misleading and emblematic of the outlet’s increasingly negative coverage of his presidency.
“With all that’s happening in the world, this is their number one story of the day?” Trump said. “Besides, he didn’t pull out—I pulled him out, because I did not like what he said to my pastors and other supporters.”
READ: Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister Drops As Trump’s Pick For DEA Head
Trump also challenged the framing of the situation as a “setback,” pointing to his recent electoral victory. “What’s my ‘latest’ setback? I just won the Presidency of the United States!” he declared, suggesting that the media is intent on downplaying his successes and focusing on perceived controversies.
The president-elect further accused The Wall Street Journal of failing to provide fair coverage of his administration and hinted at a broader frustration with media outlets. “They haven’t written a good story about me in YEARS. Somebody over there ought to look at what they’re doing.”
In addition to The Wall Street Journal, Trump singled out Forbes magazine, describing it as “stupid” and “China-centric.” The comments reflect Trump’s longstanding animosity toward parts of the media that he perceives as hostile to his policies and leadership.
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The dispute comes after Trump’s withdrawal of his DEA nominee, whose comments to religious leaders reportedly drew criticism from within Trump’s inner circle. The decision, Trump asserted was his own.
However, Chronister said Tuesday evening via social media that he was withdrawing his nomination to serve as the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
“To have been nominated by President-Elect @realDonaldTrump to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is the honor of a lifetime. Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration. There is more work to be done for the citizens of Hillsborough County and a lot of initiatives I am committed to fulfilling. I sincerely appreciate the nomination, outpouring of support by the American people, and look forward to continuing my service as Sheriff of Hillsborough County,” said Chronister.
As Trump prepares for his second term, his relationship with major media outlets remains as contentious as ever. The latest clash underscores his broader strategy of publicly challenging negative press while rallying his supporters against what he often characterizes as a biased and untrustworthy media landscape.
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