WASHINGTON — Donald Trump is threatening to weaken First Amendment protections for reporters as president.

The celebrity businessman turned Republican presidential front-runner told a rally in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday that he wants to “open up” libel laws. The changes envisioned by Trump would mean that “when they write purposely negative and horrible and false articles, we can sue them and win lots of money,” he said.

Trump said should he be elected, news organizations that criticized him will “have problems.” He specifically mentioned The New York Times. First Amendment advocates condemned Trump’s suggestions. “His statement shows why we need libel protections,” said Gregg Leslie, of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.