Trump threatens to remove news networks’ press credentials over negative coverage

President Trump early Wednesday suggested taking away news networks’ press credentials over “negative” coverage. 

“The Fake News is working overtime. Just reported that, despite the tremendous success we are having with the economy & all things else, 91% of the Network News about me is negative (Fake),” Trump wrote on Twitter.

“Why do we work so hard in working with the media when it is corrupt? Take away credentials?”

The Fake News is working overtime. Just reported that, despite the tremendous success we are having with the economy & all things else, 91% of the Network News about me is negative (Fake). Why do we work so hard in working with the media when it is corrupt? Take away credentials?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 9, 2018

Trump frequently criticizes major news outlets for so-called fake news and has threatened in the past to remove press credentials for a number of outlets. {mosads}

During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump took away some news outlets’ press credentials. Such outlets were able to cover his rallies but were cut off from his press conferences and any special access reporters with credentials normally receive. 

Cutting off press credentials would not mean reporters can no longer cover the president.

Trump’s latest threat to take away press credentials comes after The Washington Post and other outlets confirmed some of the claims made by adult-film star Stormy Daniels’s attorney Michael Avenatti on Tuesday about Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen. 

According to Avenatti, Cohen received $500,000 in the months after the 2016 election from a company run by a Russian oligarch with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Avenatti said the funding may have been used to reimburse the $130,000 payment Cohen made to Daniels to stay quiet about her alleged affair with Trump.

Updated at 8:09 a.m.