Abbreviated pundit roundup: Trump attacks the press, but stays silent on neo-Nazi support
In the past few days, we have Donald Trump lashing out at the audience members and cast members of a Broadway musical, calling a meeting with press executives and reporters for the sole purpose of viciously attacking them, and all the while, completely ignoring neo-Nazis and white supremacists who have been emboldened and who openly celebrate his victory. First up in today’s roundup, The New York Times:
The young, suit-and-tie white supremacists who traveled to Washington had no idea a year ago that their views would be getting a hearing in mainstream political discourse, much less finding sympathy in the White House. But Mr. Trump ensured that outcome by playing to white nationalism during the primaries, then choosing as his campaign chairman Mr. Bannon, who managed the alt-right’s most visible platform.
The country now finds itself at a particularly dangerous moment, with advocates of discrimination and hate emboldened as they have not been for decades. Given the danger of violence and bigotry these groups pose, why would Mr. Trump, who was so offended by the “Hamilton” cast’s plea for tolerance, remain silent?
What is so disturbing here is not just Mr. Trump’s hotheaded Twitter habits, but rather his casual disregard for freedom of expression and visceral intolerance of criticism. In his campaign, he regularly insulted journalists and sometimes leveled threats of retaliation. Now that he is president-elect, his complaints can no longer be dismissed as cranky late-night ramblings. And it is doubly disturbing that Mr. Trump can find more time to rebuke legitimate satire — but not the hateful speech being wielded, often in his name, at white-nationalist forums and other venues across the country.