To the editor: When President Trump signed an govt order renaming the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America,” it appeared like a crass and jingoistic however comparatively innocent motion. Nevertheless, Trump’s true motive was revealed when the White Home introduced that the Related Press could be denied entry to the Oval Workplace and Air Drive One as a result of it declined to capitulate to Trump’s imperialistic identify change.
In different phrases, altering the identify of a world physique of water was Trump’s loyalty take a look at for American information media. He has made it clear that retailers that don’t bow to his needs might be bullied and punished by limiting their potential to collect information, which is important to a wholesome democracy.
Trump has clearly taken a web page from the trendy autocracy playbook. Allow us to hope that our courts will present frequent sense and justice in defending our 1st Modification rights to free speech and freedom of the press.
Sam Atwood, Claremont
