A recent analysis from the Media Research Center reveals that President Donald Trump has encountered a staggering 92% negative coverage on major evening news outlets, including ABC, NBC, and CBS, during the initial four months of his current term. In stark contrast, only 8% of the reporting has been favorable.
Despite this onslaught of negativity, Trump’s second term could be viewed as a significant success when measured against various economic indicators. Inflation has consistently decreased for three consecutive months, sitting at 2.1%, significantly lower than the 9% inflation rate that former President Joe Biden cited when he first took office. Biden had previously claimed, without much challenge from mainstream media, that he inherited high inflation.
“No president has had the run we’ve had in terms of creating jobs and bringing down inflation,” Biden stated in a May 2024 interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett. The interviewer did not contest this assertion.
Further positive indicators for Trump 2.0 include:
– Consumer confidence is at its highest point in four years.
– The S&P 500 experienced its best month since 1995.
– Unemployment has dropped to 4.2%.
– The GDP is projected to grow by 4.6% in the second quarter, according to the Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank.
– Gas prices have decreased by more than 50 cents per gallon compared to last year.
– There has been a 95% drop in border crossings over the same period.
The reasons behind the overwhelming negative coverage of Trump are twofold. Firstly, there is a prevailing liberal bias in various newsrooms. Secondly, according to Axios’s Alex Thompson, reporters often feel pressured not by their audience but by their peers and superiors to avoid any critical reporting on Democratic figures, particularly presidential candidates.
“I do think in some cases, some reporters let their ideological leanings, like, affect their reporting,” Thompson told Bari Weiss on her podcast. He further described a culture of intimidation among journalists that can lead to self-doubt and reluctance to challenge the narratives surrounding Democrats.
This dynamic played out within CNN, where then-President Chris Licht faced significant backlash in 2023 for attempting to create a more neutral space for reporting on Trump. Licht’s decision to invite Trump for a town hall was particularly controversial, as he was leading the Republican field at the time. Critics within the network labeled the event “total madness,” while others deemed it CNN’s “lowest moment.”
Media personalities expressed strong disapproval of Trump being given a platform. CNN critic Brian Stelter remarked, “THIS is the 2024 Republican presidential primary,” emphasizing that news organizations must confront the reality rather than shy away from it. Anderson Cooper, addressing viewers post-town hall, stated, “I get it. It was disturbing. The man you were so disturbed to see last night… you have every right to be outraged… but do you think staying in your silo is going to make that person go away?” Despite the uproar, Licht was dismissed within weeks.
When comparing Trump’s early months to Biden’s complete four-year term, Biden received 59% positive coverage, overshadowing Trump’s situation by a vast margin. This raises questions about media objectivity when evaluating two leaders who elicit significantly different treatment in public discourse.
Notably, despite the negative coverage, Trump emerged victorious in the popular vote and secured wins in key battleground states during the latest election cycle. The shrinking influence of traditional media is evident, especially as new media outlets and platforms continue to rise.
Looking ahead, analysts suggest the legacy media will likely persist in its biased coverage throughout Trump’s ongoing presidency. Public trust in these outlets is in decline, as evidenced by a recent CNN poll indicating that just 16% of respondents consider Democrats to have strong leadership abilities, with only 19% believing they are capable of effective governance.
The landscape of media and politics continues to evolve, and it remains to be seen how this will affect both Trump and the Democratic Party in the coming years.