Trump says media ‘vital’ to make US ‘great again’, vows to work with ‘free, fair and open’ press

EXCLUSIVE: PALM BEACH, Fla. – President-elect Donald Trump said Monday that to “make America great again” it is “important” to have a “free, fair and open media,” and told Fox News Digital that he feels he has “a obligation” to the American people to work with the press, even those who had treated him “badly beyond comprehension.”

In an exclusive interview Monday morning, the president-elect said he is in the process of transforming America into “the greatest and most powerful country in the world.”

Trump discussed his relationship with the media and how he plans to interact with the press in his second term.

“To make America great again, it is very important, if not essential, to have a free, fair and open media or press,” Trump said.

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Trump met with MSNBC hosts “Morning Joe” Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski on Friday in Palm Beach — his first meeting with the two in seven years.

“I received a call from Joe Scarborough asking for a meeting for him and Mika, and I agreed that it would be a good thing if such a meeting took place,” Trump said. “We met at Mar-a-Lago Friday morning at 8:00.”

Trump said the meeting was “extremely cordial.”

“A lot of things were discussed and I really appreciated that they wanted to have open communication,” he said. “In many ways, it’s too bad it wasn’t done a long time ago.”

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Trump added that they “congratulated me on running a ‘great and flawless campaign, one for the history books,’ which I truly believe it was, but it was also a campaign where I worked long and hard — maybe longer and tougher than any presidential candidate in history.”

“We talked about various cabinet members — both announced and to be announced. As expected, they like some a lot, but not all,” Trump said. “The meeting ended in a very positive way and we agreed to talk in the future.”

Trump added: “I expect this will take place with others in the media, even those who have been extremely hostile.”

The president-elect said he feels he has “an obligation to the American public and to our country itself to be open and available to the press.”

“If it’s not dealt with fairly, though, it’s going to end,” Trump said. “The media is very important to the long-term success of the United States.”

Trump told Fox News Digital that he “will do whatever it takes to bring our country to the highest level it has ever seen.”

“We are off to a good start and I will be open and free about the further developments as they take place, that includes media relations,” he said.

Trump said he “obviously” has the “upper hand at this moment.”

“And while many others call for meetings, I am not looking for revenge, honors or to destroy people who treated me very unfairly, or even badly beyond comprehension,” he said. “I’m always looking to give a second and even third chance, but am never willing to give a fourth chance – that’s where I draw the line.”

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However, Trump thanked the “many reporters, journalists, shows and new media sources, of which there are many, who were truthful, honest and professional over the years of both my presidency and candidacies.”

“They were the ones who kept me in the game and they were the ones who gave me a victory – the likes of which our country has rarely seen before,” Trump said. “These people and organizations, and they know who they are, should be and are very proud of themselves, and they have a right to be proud. And I have a right to say to them – congratulations.”

Meanwhile, Trump has seized the majority of his key government officials in just a week and a half since his massive election victory.

His transition team will be flown out of Palm Beach, Florida before returning to Washington, DC on January 20, 2025.

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“I will soon begin the process of transforming America into the greatest and most powerful country in the world,” Trump told Fox News Digital. “But at the same time, it must be a fair and just country – a country that others around the world will look up to and emulate.”

The president-elect added: “Hopefully our success will make the world a much better and safer place.”