Former President George W. Bush says he didn’t intend to criticize President Donald Trump when he said recently that a free press is essential to democracy Speaking by telephone Tuesday with The Associated Press, Bush said he was simply responding to a reporter’s question about the role of journalism. Trump has referred to the press as the “enemy of the people,” but Bush said that it’s important to hold those in power “to account,” adding that power can be “very corrupting” and that it was dangerous to “fall in love” with power or fame or money.