Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., accused President Trump of repeatedly lying to the American people and using propaganda to stir confusion and mislead the public.
In a Thursday night interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett, Booker said the media coverage of Trump should resemble reporting on any other politician. He argued that liars should be called “liars” and propaganda should be called “propaganda.”
“I don’t understand why the media is treating Donald Trump with such kid gloves. These are not ‘untruths.’ These are not ‘alternate facts.’ These are lies and propaganda,” Booker said.
“We have seen the president of the United States and his officials repeatedly lying to the American public and pushing out … what could be called propaganda to mislead the public. He needs to be called on it, and we as the American public should not accept a president that routinely lies blatantly to the American people.”
Booker similarly called Trump a “repeated liar” and “propagandist” in a conversation with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes on Thursday night.
Booker, who rose to national prominence as mayor of Newark from 2006 until 2013, said Trump’s hardline agenda to crack down on illegal immigration will actually leave U.S. cities more dangerous. On Wednesday, Trump signed two lengthy executive orders on illegal immigration and border security. According to Booker, key sections of the orders are unAmerican, and other sections would have unintended consequences. He cited a provision that reinstated “Secure Communities,” a controversial program that grants local law enforcement officials greater power to enforce immigration laws.
