President Donald Trump has had a complex relationship with the Times throughout his political career. | Evan Vucci/AP Trump rips New York Times after giving it exclusive interview

President Donald Trump offered a seemingly back-handed message of congratulations to New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger, warning the newspaper’s new head on Tuesday to hire reporters “of a much higher standard” and to “treat the president of the United States fairly” or else risk the Times’ reputation.

“The Failing New York Times has a new publisher, A.G. Sulzberger. Congratulations! Here is a last chance for the Times to fulfill the vision of its Founder, Adolph Ochs, ‘to give the news impartially, without fear or FAVOR, regardless of party, sect, or interests involved,’” Trump wrote on Twitter in an attack against the newspaper to which he gave an exclusive interview last week.


“Get impartial journalists of a much higher standard, lose all of your phony and non-existent ‘sources,’ and treat the President of the United States FAIRLY, so that the next time I (and the people) win, you won’t have to write an apology to your readers for a job poorly done! GL,” he continued, finishing his two-post message with an apparent abbreviation of “good luck.”

The Times announced last month that the 37-year-old Sulzberger would take over as publisher effective at the start of 2018, replacing his father, Arthur Sulzberger Jr. A.G. Sulzberger is the sixth member of his family to serve as publisher of the Times since the family purchased the newspaper in 1896.

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Trump has had a complex relationship with the Times throughout his political career, often accusing his hometown newspaper of offering unfair, negative coverage of him while also sitting for interviews with its reporters on multiple occasions, including last week at his private club in Florida.

A.G. Sulzberger, in a note published Monday on the Times’ website, wrote that the newspaper’s mission “feels particularly urgent to me today as I begin my work as publisher.” He said the Times is in the midst of a “period of exciting innovation and growth” but added that the newspaper, and journalism writ large, also faces “a period of profound challenge.”

“Misinformation is rising and trust in the media is declining as technology platforms elevate clickbait, rumor and propaganda over real journalism, and politicians jockey for advantage by inflaming suspicion of the press,” he wrote. “Like our predecessors at The Times, my colleagues and I will not give in to these forces.”