Bill Weld says Trump’s tweets are like wiggly nightcrawlers
A lesson on modern journalism, courtesy of the former Massachusetts governor.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld — who’s been relatively quiet since the conclusion of his run as Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson’s running mate — is back. And he has some tips for reporting on President Donald Trump.
In an interview with the Boston Herald, Weld said reporters should stop and think before pouncing on everyone one of President Donald Trump’s tweets.
“One of the rules in politics is don’t go for the bait,” he said. “When someone drags a wiggly nightcrawler in front of you, don’t snap at it every time.”
Weld, a former Republican governor-turned-2016 Libertarian vice presidential candidate, was a firm critic of Trump during last year’s campaign, often wielding harsh and at-times eccentric historical comparisons at the Republican nominee.
“The media seems to be snapping at every single tweet that Mr. Trump does — and I think he knows exactly what he’s doing,” he told the Herald.
As Poynter’s Melody Kramer recently wrote, the question of how — and whether — to scrupulously cover Trump’s tweets has perplexed outlets hoping to balance the inherent newsworthiness of a president’s word with responsible, fact-based reporting.
In the Herald’s article Tuesday, Weld cautioned reporters against getting caught up in Trump’s social media antics.
“He knows they’re going to cover him no matter what he says or does, so there’s no penalty for dabbling in alternative reality,” he said.
