Martin Baron: "Trump is a potential autocrat: he envies the power of dictators."

Dossier Will American democracy endure?

BarcelonaMartin Baron (Tampa, 1954) has participated in one way or another in the obtaining of seventeen Pulitzer Prizes and has been director of theMiami Herald, heBoston Globeand theWashington Post. In it Post He experienced tensions with Donald Trump and the newspaper's purchase by Amazon owner Jeff Bezos, who tried to maintain his independence.

Is American democracy in danger?

— Yes, I think so. The president is trying to undermine the independent press: he's trying to erode public trust in this press and eliminate its sustainability. He's a threat to America's democratic institutions, such as the judiciary, the press, and others. Democracy is in danger in the United States.

During his first term, Trump seriously threatened democratic principles, instigated the assault on the Capitol, lied, pressured judges, pressured the press, yet he won the election again...

— There was a climate of discontent. The inflation rate in the country was quite high, and there was a lot of public discontent over the price of food, fuel, and everything. There was also great discontent regarding immigration. During the first years of the Biden administration, there was uncontrolled immigration at the southern border, which generated a backlash. Trump promised to control immigration in that area. Furthermore, many Americans felt the country was spending too much money on the war in Ukraine that should have been invested domestically. Thus, there was a climate of discontent, and many people viewed Biden as a weak president.

Will the judicial system withstand the attacks of recent days?

— Well, we'll see. There have been some judicial decisions against Trump's policies, and he, as always when a democratic institution makes a decision against him, has attacked the judiciary. We've now realized that America's democratic institutions are more fragile than we thought.

The Supreme Court has a conservative majority, but it seems it could cope.

— We'll have to wait and see what decisions he'll make. It's true that there's currently a conservative majority. He's previously made decisions both for and against Trump.

We knew who Trump was. But he's surprised. This expansive vision of the executive and the aggressiveness with which he governs?

— This shouldn't surprise us, because he has spoken openly about his ambitions. When some people say Trump wants to be a king, they underestimate his intentions: he wants to be an emperor. He believes there are only three important countries in the world: the United States, Russia, and China, and they should have the right to exercise hegemony in their regions. In his view, other countries aren't that important.

Does this mean that he only recognizes tough men like himself as interlocutors?

— He has always admired strongmen and dictators. He has envied their power, and now it seems he's trying to increase his own power in the United States. He has exceeded the limits of his constitutional powers. We must wait for the Supreme Court's decisions, but he has always admired autocrats. He is an autocrat in the making, and we have already seen proof.

Does this worldview explain the contempt he shows for the European Union?

— Trump thinks Europe isn't that important. He only thinks about the superpowers: the United States, Russia, and China. From his perspective, other countries, including European ones, aren't very important.

How would you define your relationship with Putin?

— It's hard to understand why he's trying to establish a friendship with this man, a traditional enemy, a historic adversary of the United States. He seems to rely heavily on what Putin says, which makes no sense because he's an untrustworthy person. It's surprising that he doesn't value America's traditional friendships, like those in Canada, Europe, and other allies. I don't understand why he has so much trust in a man like Putin.

In it Post They explained Trump's personality and had a lot of trouble. Would you approach it differently today?

— We must always fulfill our mission as journalists: to provide the public with the information they need and should know about their government. At the heart of this mission is the obligation to hold the powerful accountable for their actions. We must always be accountable to the president of the United States, who is, without a doubt, the most powerful person in the world. Therefore, American journalists have a duty to do good journalism, to deeply investigate what happens in this government and look beneath the surface.

You defined the journalism you've always championed—elegant and rigorous at the same time—with a phrase: "We're not at war with the government; we're working." Other journalists advocate for a crusade-style journalism. Do you maintain your position of working and not crusading?

— Yes, I maintain my point of view. We have a very important mission: to provide the public with the information they need to govern themselves. This doesn't mean it's a weak mission. On the contrary, we must speak clearly about what happens in government. Investigate thoroughly, uncover information, and unearth the facts, but always practicing journalism with strength and courage. It's not a war, it's a mission. In the United States, we have the First Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and of the press. James Madison, one of the country's Founding Fathers, said that the press had a duty to freely examine public figures and their policies. The word examine It's key: we're not stenographers, we're journalists; we're not activists, we're journalists. We must maintain our independence and, regardless of the government, carry out our work honestly and accurately, reporting the facts without fear.

It coincided with Jeff Bezos' purchase of the Washington PostThey reported on Amazon like any other company, and you explain how the newspaper's owner didn't try to suppress any stories. At the time, Amazon lost a $10 billion contract with the US government. Has that taken its toll on you in your second term?

— The owner's behavior has changed. The editorial staff continues to do its job, practicing good journalism and investigating what's happening in government. There are always excellent reports that reveal key information. There are also opinion columnists who speak frankly. But I'm concerned about the owner's behavior, because he seems to be trying to cozy up to President Trump and has made several disturbing decisions that have damaged the newspaper's reputation for independence.

Decisions like changes to the opinion section and restrictions on the editorial line?

— Yes. Eleven days before last year's election, the owner decided that no editorials supporting any presidential candidate would be published, something that had barely happened in fifty years. The opinion section staff had written an editorial supporting Kamala Harris, but decided not to publish it. In addition, they have recently restricted opinion pieces to those who defend free markets and personal liberties. I don't know exactly what this means, but they haven't given any explanation to the staff. There are other troubling decisions. For example, Amazon Prime Video has agreed to pay $40 million for a purported documentary about Melania Trump's life, three times what another buyer had offered. Melania will direct the documentary, which will not be independent. In addition, last week Amazon paid an unspecified amount for the rights to the Donald Trump television series,The ApprenticeIt seems like an attempt to do Trump and his wife a favor.

Does the strength of journalists today lie in their subscribers?

— Yes, it largely depends on subscribers. The truth is, it's very difficult to sustain ourselves solely on advertising, which has declined significantly. Google, Facebook, social media, Apple, and many other technology platforms represent significant competition for traditional media. Therefore, readers, viewers, and listeners must support the media. In reality, there are only two sources of funding for media: advertising and subscriptions. Therefore, we will increasingly rely on subscriptions.

How to grow?

— Much depends on the work of journalists. We must work rigorously, contextualize information, and investigate in depth. We must uphold the standards and norms of the profession. But the public must also support journalism by valuing truthfulness, investigations, and an independent press. The way we communicate is changing. We have seen a radical shift in information consumption, and traditional media must reflect on how to adapt to it.

Another component of the checks and balances It is the counterweight that they should make The Republican Party, and also the Democratic Party. Does the Republican Party still exist? And what's the situation with the Democratic Party?

— They should rename the Republican Party, because it's actually Trump's party, the MAGA party. (Make America Great Again). It's completely under their control. They've ceded power to Trump and have no intention of contradicting him or making decisions against him. There's no willingness to investigate what's going on in the government, and they're afraid of Trump within the party. As for the Democratic Party, it's currently a powerless party with internal conflicts.

Is the electoral idea of reducing government turning into a witch hunt?

— Trump has attacked public officials and is now firing scores of people without considering the consequences. This is a radical shift in US policy, and many citizens will feel its impact in the coming months or years.

In geopolitical terms, one country that has gained prominence in recent months in the diplomatic arena is Saudi Arabia. You are very familiar with Bin Salman's regime. How did you learn about Jamal Khashoggi's death?

— It was a shock. I was a freelance writer working for theWashington Post, writing opinion columns. His death was a huge shock, a tragedy, and a flagrant violation of human rights. He was assassinated, and the Trump administration, at the time, was unwilling to do anything. Trump valued his relationship with Saudi Arabia more than the life of a journalist.

Were there economic relations between Saudi Arabia and the Trump family?

— Of course. Her daughter's husband, Jared Kushner, now runs an investment fund that started with $2 billion in Saudi funds and I think has grown even more. He receives a percentage of that money every year. It's a way to get rich.

In his latest book, he explains that Trump supported Mohammed Bin Salman. In fact, Trump told Bob Woodward that he had "saved his ass."

— True. Trump saved the crown prince of Saudi Arabia and now has a close friendship with the Saudi government. He doesn't want to do anything to jeopardize that relationship.

Could the economy be a moderating factor in Trump's policies?

— It could be. We must wait to see the results of his economic decisions. He has imposed new tariffs, and more will surely follow. This could have very negative consequences for the country and other economies. There is a lot of fear of a possible recession. If the unemployment rate rises, I suppose there will be a reaction among his supporters. And if inflation rises again, there will also be a reaction. We must wait and see how things develop.

What impact does Elon Musk's government activity have on public opinion?

— Trump's supporters generally agree with him. They believe there is too much bureaucracy and that the government is inefficient. But there is also concern about the way workers are being laid off without any empathy. Their personal situations are not taken into account, and this has generated negative reactions.

Are you afraid that the United States will become an authoritarian regime?

— Yes, that's my fear. Trump is a budding autocrat. He envies the power of dictators and wants to amass more power. I think he's already exceeded constitutional limits, but we must wait for the Supreme Court's decisions.