Intimidation strategy said to be part of broader campaign to quash and bypass independent and critical publications
As newsrooms learned that President Trump had filed another multibillion lawsuit against a major outlet to have provoked his scorn – this time his home town paper the New York Times – media executives again puzzled over his long-term aims in repeatedly deploying the law.
Different theories abound over the strategy, from creating a chilling effect on the media to feeding an anti-mainstream media sentiment among his most vigorous supporters. One firm conclusion, however, is that the tactic is here to stay.
“I don’t think this is the end of this treatment of the media,” said one executive at a major US news outlet. “We’ll see more.”
Such is the ferocity and readiness with which Trump has turned to legal action – this is now the fourth multibillion suit he has filed against separate media companies since his return to office – some executives have talked about the possibility of displaying some kind of united front, showing solidarity against Trump’s tactics.
