‘Putin Murders Journalists’: Outrage After Trump Laughs at Putin’s Joke About Journalists
‘A Murderous Autocrat Who Kills Journalists’
As President Donald Trump’s marathon meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin was beginning, reporters filmed and photographed the two world leaders getting to know one another before being ordered to leave the room Friday afternoon at the G-20 summit. President Putin was caught on camera asking President Trump, “These are the ones that insulted you?”
“Вот Ñти Ñ‚ÐµÐ±Ñ Ð¾Ð±Ð¸Ð¶Ð°Ð»Ð¸?”: Путин и Трамп обÑудили на вÑтрече журналиÑтов pic.twitter.com/cWZQA8HjSC
— Дмитрий Смирнов (@dimsmirnov175) July 7, 2017
The Guardian’s Alex Luhn notes Putin was “gesturing at the journalists being ushered out of the room.”
“Chuckles all around,” he said of the two men and their aides.
“These are the ones that insulted you?” Putin asked Trump, gesturing at the journalists being ushered out of the room. Chuckles all around https://t.co/yNiAF3Skfr
— Alec Luhn (@ASLuhn) July 7, 2017
In America, Trump’s hated of the press is legendary. Hardly a week goes by, it seems, when he doesn’t attack a news outlet or a journalist, when he makes the world just a little more dangerous for reporters, when he makes it all the more likely that journalists will see one of their own harmed or killed as a result of his false “fake news!” and “integrity” claims.
And in Russia, President Putin (allegedly) has reporters he doesn’t like killed (see below).
Of course, Trump’s terrible relationship with the press, especially his tweeting of a violent GIF last weekend, makes the two presidents laughing about reporters all the more disturbing.Â
Here’s how some responded:
The president of the United States is laughing with a murderous autocrat about his hatred for the press. https://t.co/WLarf1OSww
— Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan) July 7, 2017
Putin murders journalists. This isn’t funny. Press freedom is a foundational American value. This is horrifying. https://t.co/sEcuNXULWc
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) July 7, 2017
A murderous autocrat who kills journalists. https://t.co/HUm8x7kKFl
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) July 7, 2017
trump calls the press “enemy of the people” whilst saying he’s honored meeting Putin who kills journalists. The path of a Dictator. Scary.
— Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) July 7, 2017
A small reminder Putin murders journalists https://t.co/kRRN1TVB2c
— Jessica Huseman (@JessicaHuseman) July 7, 2017
Dozens of journalists killed in Putin’s Russia, and he jokes with Trump, “Are these the guys who are hurting you?” Like talking to a toddler https://t.co/aR63rOGLvW
— Adam Khan (@Khanoisseur) July 7, 2017
#Putin jokes with #Trump about journalists. Recall that Putin had multiple journalists murdered. https://t.co/ngSbEvF4NL
— Jeffrey Guterman (@JeffreyGuterman) July 7, 2017
Putin kills journalists and political opponents. https://t.co/rEB301z0ma
— Matt Ortega (@MattOrtega) July 7, 2017
Putin imprisons and murders critics, protesters and journalists. He is the enemy of everything America is supposed to stand for.
— Ricardo Gozinya (@Ricardo_Gozinya) July 7, 2017
@realDonaldTrump do you get that? DO you understand that your pal Putin has journalists MURDERED? Do you think that’s funny? https://t.co/IBKMNvBg9O
— Victoria Hodge (@VHodgeAuthor) July 7, 2017
Politifact in January of 2016 reported “Russia currently ranks 180 out of 199 countries for press freedom, behind Iraq, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the international watchdog Freedom House.”
“Though it has never been known for its media independence, Russia’s press freedom and ranking have continuously decreased in the past decade under Putin,” adding, “at least 34 journalists have been murdered in Russia since 2000.”
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