The White House launched a “Hall of Shame” on its official website as Trump intensified his attacks on alleged fake news. Officials designed the portal to publicly track claims from news outlets, stating it prevents hoaxes, anonymous stories, and partisan smears from disappearing.
Major News Organizations Face Public Scrutiny
The portal named The Washington Post “Offender of the Week” and targeted The New York Times, CNN, CBS News, and The Independent. Officials detailed specific claims from each publication and categorized them as circular reporting, failure to report, false claim, malpractice, mischaracterisation, misrepresentation, or left-wing lunacy. Accredited agencies, including Associated Press and Reuters, also appear, with the White House citing bias, omissions, and lies. Matt Murray, Post executive editor, condemned the government’s targeting and reaffirmed the newspaper’s commitment to accurate reporting.
Experts Warn of Threats to Democracy
The portal excluded conservative-leaning outlets from scrutiny. The Media Research Centre praised the launch, claiming Republicans must identify media opponents. Experts told DW that the site endangers journalists, press freedom, and democracy. The website launch coincided with Trump intensifying his campaign against so-called fake news and criticizing journalists, often women, calling them “ugly inside and out,” “stupid,” and “piggy.”
