Still steamed at a series of recent stories about his White House from NBC News, President Donald Trump on Wednesday took aim at the TV network, wondering aloud about an investigation of the press, denouncing "Fake News," and complaining about the media's work on his administration in general.
"It's frankly disgusting the way the press is able to write whatever they want to write," the President said during a photo op in the Oval Office, as Mr. Trump said there should be questions asked of the news media - "and people should look into it."
"The press should speak more honestly," the President added. "I've seen tremendously dishonest press - it's not even a question of distortion."
Earlier in the day, the President issued a tweet, but also threatened the possibility of retaliation against NBC, asking "at what point is it appropriate to challenge their License?"
But as experts correctly pointed out, the NBC network does not need a license to operate - though, any TV stations owned directly by the network would need government licensing approval.
That tweet earned a swift rebuke from one media advocate, the National Association of Broadcasters, who invoked the First Amendment.
"It is contrary to this fundamental right for any government official to threaten the revocation of an FCC license simply because of a disagreement with the reporting of a journalist," said NAB President Gordon Smith, a former Republican U.S. Senator.
In recent days, Mr. Trump has issued a string of negative tweets at the news media, clearly angered by details about him in a series of stories.
While Democrats criticized the President's comments, even some Republicans joined in to question him - this from Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE):
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