A thought on presidents and journalists

“In America the president reigns for four years, and journalism governs forever and ever.”
— Oscar Wilde

Today’s quote comes from a posthumously published lecture Wilde gave called Decorative Art in America. It appeared in print in 1906.

Here, 120 years on, the quote still resonates, and it should also make us think.

The presidency in the U.S. may be forever changed by the second term of Donald Trump, and journalism is in rocky shape, as the massive cuts to the Washington Post illustrate.

I’m also inclined to bring this quote forward after an exchange earlier this week in which Trump berated a woman in the press corps, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, for not smiling.

Here’s part of their exchange:

Trump: “I’ve known you for 10 years. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a smile on your face.”

Collins: “I’m asking you about survivors of Jeffrey Epstein..”

Trump, interrupting: “You know why you’re not smiling? Because you know you’re not telling the truth.”

Not speaking during the exchange: anyone standing next to Trump, nor anyone, it should be noted, next to Collins among the media.

Trump, who has had harsh things to say to reporters for many years, has become especially ruthless with female reporters. In November, he said, “Quiet! Quiet, piggy!” to Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey. It’s worth emphasizing that Lucey was also asking Trump about the Epstein files.