USA TODAY

Letter to the editor:

President-elect Donald Trump’s first news conference forcefully exhibited a dangerous political tactic the Republican Party has been deploying for years: dismissing the probes and reporting of major news organizations as fake or biased.

The aim of these conservatives is to delegitimize the press, which is the most important safeguard against incompetent and unconstitutional leadership of the country. The American people must recognize and respond to this grave threat to our freedom and our future before irreparable harm is done to both.

Buck Rutledge; Knoxville, Tenn.

Facebook comments are edited for clarity and grammar:

The all-time champion of promoting fake news is complaining about what he thinks is fake news about him.

What the heck was the “President Obama was born in Kenya” story if not fake news? Trump began his political career with it. If Trump is being attacked by fake news this time, it comes under the heading of “what goes around, comes around.”

— Joe Gannon

Sorry USA TODAY, but unconfirmed and unverifiable stories are the exact definition of fake news.

Reporting of unconfirmed and unverifiable items is just gossip and makes you nothing more than a tabloid. Stories like this are pushing me and my friends a lot closer to “Breitbart News,” which by the way, according to Alexa rankings is eating you guys for lunch.

— Mickey Kumpf

The news media has never treated another elected official like this. For Pete’s sake, Donald Trump is going to be the president of the U.S. in a few days.

Trump is absolutely right. I think CNN is nothing but fake news.

I, for one of many, am sick and tired of all the attacks against the president-elect. In four years, if you vote, replace him. Who knows, he might stay for eight. At least he cares about America, even though many “American snowflakes” don’t.

— Judy Canup

Policing the USA

We asked our followers their thoughts on President-elect Donald Trump’s first news conference after the elections. Tweets are edited for clarity and grammar:

Frightening. Trump’s quickness to anger and denigrate others is concerning. I didn’t hear coherent answers to questions.

— @tricyrtis314

The entire press corps should have walked out. It was a farce.

— @hotelkeys

I’m thrilled because I’m so ready for our country to be open for business again.

— @HarpAmyStabler

Trump shows no signs of moderation, self-control or the ability to act “presidential.”

— @nauga54

My young granddaughter could give a more informative and intelligent news conference.

— @gen_genwh3

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