How Donald Trump dominates the news, and the media hurts itself
The Associated Press, a news organization that has had its fair share of clashes with the White House, recently found itself in an embarrassing situation after having to retract a story that claimed U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard had made comments about President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin being “very good friends.” The retraction clarified that Gabbard was actually referring to Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the AP issued an apology for the error.
This misstep comes at a time when the AP is already in a legal battle with the Trump administration over the removal of its reporters from the White House pool due to its refusal to refer to “Gulf of America” instead of the traditional term. The incident only serves to reinforce the administration’s claims of biased and inaccurate reporting by major media outlets.
President Trump, a master at controlling the news cycle, wasted no time in capitalizing on the AP’s mistake. During a recent visit to the Kennedy Center, he refused to take questions from an NBC reporter, citing the network’s lack of credibility. Trump’s ability to dominate headlines, whether through controversial statements or policy decisions, continues to keep him at the center of media attention.
In another bold move, Trump suggested the idea of personally hosting the Kennedy Center honors, a prestigious annual awards show. With the recent purge of Democratic board members, it seems that the president is intent on reshaping the event to focus on producing “Broadway hits.”
Additionally, Trump’s decision to release 80,000 pages of JFK assassination files with no redactions further demonstrates his willingness to make bold moves that generate headlines. His recent attacks on Judge James Boasberg for halting the deportations of Venezuelan gang members also drew criticism from Chief Justice John Roberts, who emphasized the importance of respecting judicial decisions.
Despite facing negative coverage and criticism, Trump shows no signs of slowing down. His engagement with journalists, such as his personal attack on Atlantic reporter Ashley Parker, highlights his combative approach to media interactions. However, Trump’s focus on foreign policy issues, such as his recent phone call with Russian President Putin, suggests a willingness to engage in diplomatic efforts to improve relations between the United States and Russia.
Overall, Trump’s ability to drive the news cycle, whether through controversial statements or policy decisions, continues to keep him at the forefront of public attention. As the president remains a polarizing figure, his actions and statements will likely continue to shape the media landscape for the foreseeable future.
