Lately, I’ve been very concerned about President Donald Trump’s speeches, in which he seems to incite violence toward the free press by calling them “fake news” and “the enemy of the people.”

He admires dictators and autocrats, as shown in comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and more. Dictators get rid of the free press, which Trump seems to be trying his best to do.

The free press that I see, especially on MSNBC, do a lot of fact-checking, show videos of things said, past and present, which enable us to judge when lies are said. They expose corruption and illegal activities, and bring attention to situations that affect our lives, so that unethical individuals do not go unexposed.

They do not tell “alternative facts” or say that “the truth is not the truth.” We need the free press to protect our democracy and our way of life and truly help to “drain the swamp.”

Jean Yoshikane

Kaneohe

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