By Kevin Akor
PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump escalated his long-standing feud with the mainstream media Tuesday, calling for the closure of The New York Times following the publication’s coverage of recent controversies at Harvard University.
In a statement posted to his Truth Social platform, the former president accused the news organization of ignoring “corruption and antisemitism” at the Ivy League institution. Trump, who has frequently targeted the paper throughout his political career, characterized the outlet as a “pathetic vehicle of the Left” that lacks journalistic integrity.
“To anyone who knows, they have ZERO credibility, a ‘Rag’ at the lowest level,” Trump wrote. “I look forward to watching their rapidly falling circulation force them to finally close their doors. That would be great news for America!”
The former president’s comments come amid heightened national scrutiny regarding campus climate and administrative responses to antisemitism at major universities. Trump alleged that the Times failed to properly fact-check its reporting on the matter, suggesting the coverage was politically motivated.
The New York Times has not issued a formal response to the former president’s latest remarks. While Trump claimed his previous election victory occurred in a “landslide” despite the paper’s negative coverage, critics and fact-checkers have historically noted that the 2024 election results remained a point of intense national debate.
Trump’s rhetoric highlights a central theme of his ongoing political platform: a deep-seated distrust of traditional media institutions, which he frequently labels as “Fake News.”
