On November 7, 2018, on the day after the midterm elections, I watched a Presidential news conference.  I was amazed at the lack of deference shown to the President by some of the reporters.  Several of them were very provocative and rude in their questioning.  Trump began by making some some remarks on the election results, and his tone was rather subdued and reflective.  When questions were allowed, however, several reporters appeared primed for the kill., and they went after the President with an obvious intent to push his hot buttons.  Considering Trump’s volatility, that isn’t hard to do.   The President fired back at his tormentors, and the tone of the press conference went downhill from there.

I had no idea that the level of civility had sunk so low in these conferences, and I was somewhat surprised that Trump would submit himself to such contemptuous behavior on the part of the media. Perhaps the President’s own words and actions have brought this to pass, but it seems to me that the reporters were at fault for failing to show at least a modicum of respect for the office.  Something is terribly wrong!

I had the distinct feeling that if the President and the reporters had worn sidearms to that press conference, there would have been blood on the floor.