By Tony O'Riley And Gavin Mackintosh-
The Sun’s Newspaper’s editorial is today criticised by The Eye Of Media.Com for interviewing U.S President Donald Trump in a way that led him to recommend Boris Johnson for the U.k prime ministerial post.
The paper has also come under criticism by a group of professionals comprising lawyers, social workers, teachers, and a few writers during a consultation over this article. The paper during the interview last week had also informed the President ahead of his visit to the Uk that Meghan had called him Misogynistic, and threatened to move to Canada if he won the 2016 elections, and that he wouldn’t be meeting Meghan Markle during his visit. Trump told the paper that it was the first he had heard of the news, a confirmation of The Sun Newspaper’s deep contacts with news connected with the royals.
The recommendation of the former Foreign Secretary has been made by Trump in the past, sparking fury among critics and Mps, who have condemned such comments by a national leader as wrong and bad practise. Trump has also been engaged in a deep spat with current Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan
During an interview by the Sun’s Tom Newton Dunn on January 31st- a few days before his visit to the Uk- Britain’s best selling newspaper spoke to Trump at the Oval office, questioning him in a way that led to the U.S president lending his support to Boris Johnson, which the paper acknowledged as a major breach of protocol. The support was for the Conservative leadership contest following the advanced resignation of Theresa May, due to officially step down on June 8.
During the interview, Mr Trump told The Sun: “It’s something that I find very interesting.
“I actually have studied it very hard. I know the different players.
“But I think Boris would do a very good job. I think he would be excellent.”
The President added: “I like him. I have always liked him. I don’t know that he is going to be chosen, but I think he is a very good guy, a very talented person.
“He has been very positive about me and our country.”
CREDIBILITY
Trump’s comment that Johnson has been very positive about him and his country immediately dilutes the credibility of his recommendation if it is based on reciprocating good comments. Trump’s subsequent comments that he had been asked for endorsements and would endorse ”could help anybody if he endorses them suggests the American president may subscribe to the idea of politicians winning leadership contests on the basis of endorsements, rather basing endorsements on genuine competence and proven abilities.
The Eye Of Media.Com today asked the Sun’s editorial why their paper had led the U.S president to questions that would cause him to act in a manner deemed inappropriate and in their own words ”breach protocol”. A representative said: ”It was an editorial decision”, but was unable to say whether the decision was appropriate, stating ”I don’t know”.
The Sun later during the same interview informed the president of comments made by wife of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, who had described the president as being ”misogynistic and divisive” during the 2016 U.S elections, to which he responded by calling her ”nasty”. Meghan was not alone in being repelled by reports of Trump’s comments about women revealed during the 2016 election, making it bad taste for a reporter to direct the president along such lines during an interview.
Boris Johnson, whom Trump now supports after the former Foreign Secretary made a U turn following the president’s eventual election victory, was similarly critical of Trump during the 2016 elections. His criticism of Trump was based on Trump’s radical stance on Muslims during his election campaign, but positive comments later made by Johnson put his old remarks in the the past bin. A number of Mps have today frowned against Trump’s decision to openly interfere in British politics.
SHOCKING
The Sun Newspaper is known for its knack for shocking and interesting news, but needs to refrain from provoking divisive comments when interviewing highly placed persons. The paper could argue that it believes Trump would have made the comments eventually to another media outlet, as a justification for bringing out what they would say was already in the American president’s heart,
It may also raise the question as to whether it is appropriate for media outlets to question a national leader on their views about an election process in another country. Some who discussed the issue during a meeting with our thinktank believed it was up to the president to avoid committing to a response that interferes in the political process, but most believed questions that are designed to attract wrong and dangerous responses should be avoided by responsible journalists.
Some critics believe Trump’s endorsement of Johnson could actually jeopardise his chances of victory in the election contests, but it really is down to the support provided by Mps that will determine who wins
P.S- This article was contributed to by both authours