The Wall Street Journal published a stinging editorial Wednesday condemning President Donald Trump for “his seemingly endless stream of exaggerations, evidence-free accusations, implausible denials and other falsehoods.”

The editorial board argued Trump’s words are eroding public trust, both in the United States and abroad. The piece compared the president to an alcoholic for his refusal to back away from the claim – which has been denounced publicly by FBI Director James Comey – that the Obama administration ordered a wiretap of Trump Tower.

“Yet the President clings to his assertion like a drunk to an empty gin bottle, rolling out his press spokesman to make more dubious claims,” the board wrote.


The board went on to say the pattern is a continuation from the presidential campaign that is costing him politically at home and abroad as president, pointing to a recent Gallup poll that found Trump’s approval rating has dropped to 39 percent.

“No doubt Mr. Trump considers that fake news, but if he doesn’t show more respect for the truth most Americans may conclude he’s a fake President,” the board concluded.

The newspaper, which has a conservative-leaning editorial board, has been accused of being soft on the new president, and editor-in-chief Gerard Baker defended coverage of Trump at a staff meeting last month.