The Wall Street Journal's conservative editorial board sharply criticized President Donald Trump on Sunday for trying to kill a story that is arguably doing him a favor.
The Trump administration has been trying to discredit a New York Times story about the president switching from his Qatari-gifted Air Force One to the traditional one while in the United Kingdom on his return from a summit in Turkey. In response to the story, the Trump Department of Justice has subpoenaed the reporters in an attempt to get them to reveal their sources.
In a new editorial, the WSJ editors took Trump to task for attacking the reporters and the story, arguing that it could be a boon to his effort to sell the American people on the Iran war.
"The White House hasn’t confirmed the Air Force One switch, but it hasn’t denied the story either," the editorial reads in part. "Notably, the Justice Department has subpoenaed New York Times writers who reported the story to disclose their sources. That’s harassment against the press that won’t make the U.S. safer. The story arguably did Mr. Trump a favor by reminding the public that Iran’s regime hasn’t turned over a 'new leaf,' to borrow Vice President JD Vance’s term."
The editors also argued that the story shows Trump is taking threats against his life seriously, as he should. The same can't be said for some people who were once close to Trump, like John Bolton, his former national security advisor.
The Trump administration has prosecuted Bolton for mishandling classified documents, and the DOJ is seeking a sentence of up to five years, the editorial noted. That kind of "raw vindictiveness" could leave blood on the administration's hands, the editors warned.
"Mr. Trump has the Secret Service to protect him, but these other public servants don’t," the editorial reads. "They have to do without security or pay for it themselves, as Mr. Bolton has. Let’s hope Judge Chuang dispenses with the Justice Department’s unjust prison demand and issues a suspended sentence."
"As for Mr. Trump, he’s already exacted revenge against his former adviser with the prosecution and fine," it adds. "He knows Iran has a kill 'list' that includes him and his advisers. If Mr. Bolton is killed in prison, the President and his Justice Department will be partly responsible."
