The largest newspaper in Finland bought 300 billboards promoting free press in Helsinki for the Monday summit meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Mr. President, welcome to the land of the free press,” one billboard read.
A reporter for Helsingin Sanomat said the billboards were bought to remind the two world leaders of the importance of a free press.
As we welcome the presidents to the summit in Helsinki, we @hsfi want to remind them of the importance of free press. 300 billboards on the routes from the airport to the summit are filled with news headlines regarding presidents’ attitude towards the pressfreedom. #HELSINKI2018 pic.twitter.com/KmYJtLyeNE
— Kaius Niemi (@KaiusNiemi) July 15, 2018
Trump has often castigated U.S. media outlets and ever since his campaign has called mainstream outlets like CNN and MSNBC “fake news,” which some say is an attack on the free press.
While the presidential motorcade rolled past thousands of people in the market square in Helsinki, many held up their middle fingers.
One sign in the crowd read, “Free press banned in Russia. Banned in the U.S.?”
Russian is notorious for its state-owned and government sanctioned press.
