this post was submitted on 17 Mar 2026
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...

Amid the 98th Academy Awards ceremony, the president rattled off lengthy posts, complaining about the media’s reporting on the war with Iran, the Supreme Court’s tariff decision, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, judges who have not ruled in favor of the his administration, Democrats and more.

In one of those posts, the president accused Iran of planting a false story about a U.S. aircraft carrier being destroyed, in part by releasing an AI-generated video of the fake attack. He said media outlets that reported on the story should be punished.

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“The story was knowingly FAKE and, in a certain way, you can say that those Media Outlets that generated it should be brought up on Charges for TREASON for the dissemination of false information!” Trump wrote.

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In the United States, treason can carry the death penalty, a minimum of five years in prison, at least a $10,000 fine and prohibits anyone found guilty of holding office.

Trump also lashed out at reporters who asked questions about the conflict in Iran during a press briefing on board Air Force One Sunday. During the 20-minute huddle, he said ABC News was “maybe the most corrupt news organization on the planet.”

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[–] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 3 points 6 hours ago

What about the death penalty for pedophilic rape? What about that?

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 6 points 22 hours ago

Didn't Trump post AI videos of himself talking about magic instant heal beds at one point? Everything really is a projection isn't it.

[–] TheFrogThatFlies@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago

Can't we have death penalty for incompetent and corrupt agents of government instead?

[–] LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.com 22 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Trump threatening media with treason... Can we call this fascism yet or is this still gonna get called alarmism by the same people from 2016 who usually flat-out don't follow and/or understand news?

[–] RamenJunkie@midwest.social 11 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Feels like more projection really. "Everyone says I am a trairor and spread fake news, but no U."

[–] LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Well yes, authoritarian overreach is rarely a means unto itself, it is a method by which some goal is achieved, in this case it's him being able to use power to rewrite reality to suit his projection. That's even more fascistic though.

[–] Shirasho@lemmings.world 20 points 1 day ago

Pot calling the kettle black. The same guy that retweeted false information during the Biden administration.

[–] bad1080@piefed.social 15 points 1 day ago

everything that says "fit for office" in one person...

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

citizens accept the constitution. patriots defend the constitution. Traitors violate the constitution. Its pretty clear to me who should get the death penalty here but I am against the death penalty so life in prison and barred from holding public office would suffice.

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 2 points 22 hours ago (2 children)

The fact that he was convicted of a sex crime should have already invalidated him from holding office. What really needs to happen is the US needs to sort their laws out. Trump is a symptom.

They should also probably put a law on the books that says that if you can't run a casino profitably you should probably not be allowed anywhere near any any finance orientated job. somewhat of a niche law, but it seems necessary.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 1 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

unfortunately the constitution is kinda strange with that. One reason I think they dragged their feat on conviction was because if he was convicted and won he would still be president. There was some theory talk before he was elected about serving from a jail cell.

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 1 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Plenty of other countries have rules that say that people elected to high office cannot have been convicted of a serious crime. Seems kind of ridiculous that serving from jail is even a concept.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 1 points 5 hours ago

Im not saying its not a good rule but I believe we can't just pass a law. It might require a constitutional amendment.

[–] shani66@ani.social 1 points 18 hours ago

Just so you're aware, Trump's presidency is already illegal. He can't be president because he led an insurrection and Congress hasn't cleared him to run after. That said, no one seems even vaguely interested in enforcing the laws on anyone not poor in this country.

[–] anguo@piefed.ca 11 points 1 day ago (3 children)

While I love outrageous Trump stories, this one is overblown. He talks about treason, not the death penalty. The fact that one can lead to the other is probably not something he knows.

[–] tangentism@beehaw.org 2 points 19 hours ago

Ignorance is not a line of defence

[–] Sepia@mander.xyz 36 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I respectfully disagree. He may not know that, but he is the president of the U.S. In such capacity he is responsible for this even if he didn't know, especially if he is threatening the media and freedom of opinion. I am sure he has a bunch of people around him who could advise him, he just has to listen.

If you and me or any other random guy on the web is saying something like that, we may apologize if we didn't know, but if you are in such a position it is unexcusable imo.

[–] leoj@piefed.social 26 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I don't understand what the man does to get people to be so ready to excuse him for his actions, feels like some kind of magic.

[–] shani66@ani.social 1 points 18 hours ago

It's actually insane. He's been a laughing stock his entire life, he is deeply off-putting, he's stupid, he's selfish, he's cruel, he's literally a pedophile, there is no redeeming qualities about him what so ever! I can understand these animals scraping and bowing to someone like kirk, he had the appearance of charisma at least, but this cult baffles me.

[–] Sepia@mander.xyz 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I feel somehow it is not just with this man but with more or less all other autocratic 'leaders' ... they have their fan club ready ...

[–] leoj@piefed.social 3 points 1 day ago

thats fair, my experience with autocrats, in such a personal way, is limited (fortunately).

[–] anguo@piefed.ca 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to excuse the man, I just find this to be sensationalist journalism.

[–] leoj@piefed.social 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I think if you look at the recent history (post WWII) of people charged with treason formally by the United States you will see that execution and a charge of treason, are pretty closely linked.

[–] anguo@piefed.ca 1 points 1 day ago

Fair enough!

[–] timewarp@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Are you kidding me? He's already called for the death of Congressional representatives saying that they committed treason which is punishable by death.

https://abcnews.com/Politics/trumps-accusations-treason-draw-bipartisan-rebuke/story?id=127797846

[–] Sepia@mander.xyz 9 points 1 day ago

U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr posted on X, tied to Trump's post, a threat to media outlets:

Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions - also known as the fake news - have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up. - Source: https://xcancel.com/BrendanCarrFCC/status/2032855414233047172#m

Here is a response by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (Dem): https://xcancel.com/SenWarren/status/2032924552452292856#m

He is the traitor

[–] FelixCress@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

🤣🤣🤣