In a charged speech delivered at the Department of Justice (DOJ) on March 14, 2025, former President Donald Trump launched a vehement attack on major media outlets, particularly CNN and MSNBC, accusing them of being “corrupt” and suggesting that their actions should be deemed illegal. Trump criticized the two networks for their coverage of him, asserting that their negative reporting amounted to coordinated political campaigning on behalf of the Democratic Party.
“I believe that CNN and MS-DNC, who literally write 97.6 percent bad about me, are political arms of the Democrat Party and in my opinion, they’re really corrupt and they’re illegal,” Trump stated. He also claimed that the media’s coordinated reporting could influence judicial decisions, undermining the rule of law.
“These networks and these newspapers are really no different than a highly paid political operative,” he continued, adding, “It has to stop, it has to be illegal, it’s influencing judges and it’s really changing law, and it just cannot be legal.”
The remarks reflect Trump’s ongoing frustration with what he sees as political persecution and unfair media treatment. The former president’s rare address at the DOJ also included critiques of the Biden administration, amplifying his belief that he has been unjustly targeted by political opponents.
Trump’s comments come amid broader tensions between the White House and the media. Recently, the Biden administration took control of the White House press pool, stripping the White House Correspondents’ Association of its role in selecting reporters who travel with the president. This move follows disputes such as the ongoing conflict with The Associated Press (AP), which has been restricted from access to the Oval Office and Air Force One after refusing to adopt the term “Gulf of America” in its Stylebook, instead of the traditional “Gulf of Mexico.”
The White House’s actions against the AP have led to legal challenges, underscoring the deepening divide between the media and the current administration.
