Professional ethics?
Trump lied about seeing Muslims dancing in the street. It was a blatant attempt to generate hatred of Muslims based on a lie
Yes, the Press have a role they have been trumpeting for centuries, ie the Fifth Estate, blah, blah.
And they have taken this exalted role and whored themselves out for partisan politics.
They deserve nothing but contempt.
Trump does not need to generate "fear" or "hatred" of Muslims. The regular random murder they commit in the name of their religion generates a very reasonable and rational fear.
Trump merely needs to draw attention to the fact that he alone is prepared to DO something to protect Americans from them.