The UN human rights chief said on Wednesday that President Donald Trump's relentless attacks on the media could trigger violence against journalists, suggesting the US leader would be responsible.
In a broad condemnation of Trump's conduct in office, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said he viewed the US presidency as the driver of "the bus of humanity", accusing Trump of "reckless driving".
On the media, Zeid voiced particular alarm over Trump's verbal assaults on CNN, the New York Times and Washington Post.
"And let's assume a journalist is harmed from one of these organisations, does the president not bear responsibility for this, for having fanned this?" Zeid told reporters in Geneva.
"I believe it could amount to incitement," he added, saying Trump had set in motion a cycle that includes "incitement, fear, self-censorship and violence." According to the rights chief, Trump's assault on the media has emboldened other countries to crack down on press freedoms.
He expressed specific concern over Trump's speech in Arizona earlier this month in which journalists were condemned by the US leader as "dishonest people" who "don't like our country".
Turning to the pardon for Arpaio, a hugely controversial figure intially targeted for prosecution by former president Barack Obama's justice department, Zeid said he was deeply disturbed by Trump's decision.
Zeid asked "does the president support this?"
Arpaio, who was known to make detainees wear pink underwear to humiliate them, housed prisoners in tent camps surrounded by barbed wire, in the scorching Arizona desert.
The former sheriff once likened the encampment to a concentration camp, although he later backed away from that remark.
Zeid, who has not minced his words in previous criticism of Trump, indicated that the world was is in a perilous state with the New York billionaire in a position of global leadership.
"You asked me in November if I thought he was dangerous," Zeid continued. "Today the only person who can confirm that is the president himself by dint of his own actions."
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)