Trump says The New York Times will close “in the near future”
In short
US President Donald Trump said The New York Times will close “in the near future”, according to reports from the state news agency TASS and the business outlet RBC. Both reports said Trump described that day as a great day for America. Neither report said when or where he made the remark.
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US President Donald Trump said The New York Times will close “in the near future”, according to reports from TASS and RBC. RBC reported that Trump said the closure would be a great day for America, and TASS reported his words that the day would be a great day for America. Neither report stated where or when the comments were made. [ 1 , 2 ]
Both accounts are consistent and give no further detail beyond the prediction and Trump's comment on the day it would happen. Neither document reports a response from The New York Times, an occasion for the remark, or anything that prompted it. TASS, the state news agency, published its report at 01:38 local time, and RBC, a business outlet, followed at 08:39 local time. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The statement is a public attack by a US president on a major national newspaper, carried by two of Russia's most prominent outlets. The documents give no indication of any action beyond the remark, and no response from the newspaper is reported.
Key facts
- US President Donald Trump said The New York Times will close “in the near future”. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Trump said the day the newspaper closes would be a great day for America, according to the reports. [ 1 , 2 ]
- TASS, a state news agency, and RBC, a business outlet, both reported the statement. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The documents do not say where or when Trump made the remark. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- When and where Trump made the statement, and at what occasion. Neither document gives a date, place or context for the remark; both reports consist of a short summary of his words.
- Whether The New York Times or anyone else responded to the statement. No response is reported in either document.
- What Trump based the prediction on, or what prompted the comment. The documents state the claim without giving a cause or further detail.