Trump is Already Abandoning His Campaign Promises and Focusing on His Tour of Revenge and Retribution Arrow

Donald Trump's entire political career has revolved around revenge and retribution, so it's no surprise that he's already abandoning his campaign promises to lower costs for working Americans and instead spending his time focused on going after the free press and suggesting his opponents "should go to jail." Whether it's threatening lawsuits against media outlets over coverage he doesn't like or floating jail time for members of the January 6 Committee, Trump only wants to use the power of his office to help himself - not to make life better for the American people.

In a news conference this week, Trump unleashed attacks against the press - threatening lawsuits and hurling insults in his latest campaign of revenge and retribution.

Hadas Gold, CNN: "Trump goes through other already launched or planned lawsuits against the media - including the Pulitzer Prizes"

Alex Gangitano, The Hill: "'Our press is very corrupt, almost as corrupt as our elections,' Trump says."

Associated Press: "Journalists anticipate a renewed hostility toward their work under the incoming Trump administration"

"At a news conference on Monday, Trump said that 'we need a fair media' and discussed some potential and ongoing legal cases he has against news outlets.

"'We have to straighten out the press,' Trump said. 'Our press is very corrupt, almost as corrupt as our elections.'"

Trump is already suing the Des Moines Register and its parent company for a poll he didn't like.

New York Times: "Trump Sues The Des Moines Register, Escalating Threats Against the Media"

"President-elect Donald J. Trump sued The Des Moines Register for running a poll before the election that showed him trailing Vice President Kamala Harris, escalating his threats to seek retribution against the mainstream media and his political enemies.

"It's clear that Trump is waging war on the press,' said Samantha Barbas, a professor at the University of Iowa College of Law whose book, 'Actual Malice,' is about the Supreme Court's most famous defamation case. 'Trump and his lawyers are going to use any legal claim that they think has a chance of sticking. They'll cast a wide net to carry out this vendetta.'"

Allan Smith, NBC News: "Something notable here is that Trump is not just suing Selzer and her firm, but the Des Moines Register and Gannett"

And Trump is ramping up threats against outlets for coverage of his disastrous and extreme MAGA Cabinet picks.

New York Times: "Trump and His Picks Threaten More Lawsuits Over Critical Coverage"

"All of them appeared aimed at intimidating news outlets and others who have criticized or questioned President-elect Donald J. Trump and his nominees to run the Pentagon and F.B.I."

The Hill: "Trump sparks fears over retribution against media with Patel FBI pick"

Trump isn't planning to stop there - he's suggested members of Congress who investigated January 6 "should go to jail" while promising pardons for the violent insurrectionists who attacked the Capitol.

NBC News: "President-elect Donald Trump said he is looking to pardon his supporters involved in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as soon as his first day in office, saying those incarcerated are 'living in hell.'

"Trump made the comments, his most sweeping since he won the election, in an exclusive interview with NBC News' 'Meet the Press' moderator Kristen Welker."

Washington Post: "Trump says members of Jan. 6 committee should be jailed"

"President-elect Donald Trump, in his first post-election TV interview, promised a confrontational return to the White House, saying he would like to see many of those who investigated him jailed, including lawmakers who led an inquiry into his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

"While it is exceedingly abnormal for the leader of a democracy to express a desire to see political opponents jailed, Trump has long called for the prosecution and imprisonment of those he believes unfairly launched investigations into actions he took during his first administration.

"In a 45-minute interview with NBC News's 'Meet the Press' that aired Sunday and was recorded on Friday, Trump said members of the now-defunct House select committee tasked with investigating the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol should be in jail."

The MAGA minions Trump tapped to lead agencies such as the FBI and FCC are also following his lead, and even plotting ways to weaponize their power to go after media outlets and reporters they don't like.

Rolling Stone: "'It'll Be Brutal': Inside Trump's Planned War on Leakers and the Press"

"Rolling Stone spoke with attorneys close to the president-elect, incoming Trump administration officials, and other Republicans who've talked to Trump about staunching embarrassing press leaks during a second administration. Two of the sources with knowledge of the matter specifically cited the Dec. 1 subpoena as a model, and something that Trump allies and lieutenants are expecting to issue more of during the second term - this time, with the benefit of years, not days.

"Among committed Trumpists close to the president-elect, there has also been discussion of potentially creating new offices in the FBI or DOJ to focus exclusively on hunting for leaks and plugging the deluge of media leaks."

The Hill: "People close to Trump have said in recent days he should dramatically change who gets access to the president, suggesting podcasters, internet personalities and media deemed more friendly to him could replace outlets like the major television networks, The New York Times and The Washington Post in the room's front rows."

The Hill: "We will go out and find the conspirators, not just in government but in the media,' Patel said during a 2023 episode of Steve Bannon's 'War Room' podcast. 'Yes, we're going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections. We're going to come after you. Whether that's criminally or civilly, we're going to figure that out. But yeah, we're putting you all on notice.'"

Columbia Journalism Review: "Regardless of the legality of weaponizing the licensing process, it is alarming to imagine how CBS could be incentivized to soften its coverage of the new Trump administration during a protracted court challenge, while its corporate parent is stuck in debt. 'Broadcast licenses are not sacred cows.' Carr posted recently on X. 'These media companies are required by law to operate in the public interest. If they don't, they are going to be held accountable.'"

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