Former President Donald Trump, 76, has had a difficult time adjusting to post-White House life, with certain unnamed aides saying the press doesn’t cover his campaign or other publicity stunts. When Trump was president, he had a war with the press, often referring to them as the “fake news,” especially liberal cable like CNN, MSNBC and other mainstream networks. By the time Trump was beaten Nov. 8, 2020 by 80-year-old President Joe Biden, he was so demonized by the U.S. press he couldn’t run for dogcatcher. Now Trump aids complain he can’t get reporters to cover events a Mar-a-Lago or his Bedminster, N.J. golf clubs. “We had to explain to him that he didn’t have a group standing waiting for him anymore,” said an unnamed reporter told the Washington Post. How factual the unnamed reports are anyone’s guess, typically they’re purely fabricated.
Trump’s problems with the press stemmed when he announced June 16, 2015 at New York City’s Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue. Little did Trump know at the time the rocky road he’d have with press, quickly building his campaign against “fake news,” especially calling our CNN, MSNBC and other pro-Democrat news sources that eventually promoted the Russian hoax. When Trump vanquished his Republican competition in June 2016, 67-year-old former CIA Director John Brennan handed former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s paid opposition research AKA the Steele dossier to 62-year-old FBI Director James Comey. Comey received the material from the late Sen. John McCain (R-Az.) for disrespecting his prisoner-of-war status as a Vietnam vet. So, as a result of McCain’s personal vendetta, the press did everything to Hillary get elected. McCain brought the phony dossier to Comey.
Imagine that the GOP’s 2016 nominee was investigated by the FBI on fake probable cause from his rival’s paid opposition research. No one could imagine that a coordinated effort by federal intel and law enforcement agencies did everything to stop Trump from becoming president. By the time the Nov. 3, 2016 election rolled around, Comey investigated by Trump as public enemy No. 1. Conspiracies within the upper ranks of the FBI were actively working to sabotage Trump’s campaign and, if necessary, his presidency, all based on his rivals fabricated dossier. So, when Trump talks to stopping the “thugs” at the DOJ or FBI, he’s been through the wringer since announcing for president in 2015. Trump’s comments about “thugs” at the FBI or DOJ related to his personal experience, not so concocted story. Trump never got any satisfaction uncovering the White House-DOJ-FBI conspiracy.
Trump can’t get any good publicity from the U.S. press, promising to only get worse the closer he gets to Republican primaries. Trump battles internal divisions in the GOP that want no part of his 2024 nomination. Remembering the good old days when reporters followed Trump like a puppy dog, the president finds himself in no man
Land when it comes to press coverage. Everything covered is about one-scandal-after another, whether about Mar-a-Lago’s classified docs or about what anti-Semite or racist visits to his golf resorts. “The appetite for attention hasn’t waned, but that’s where he gets it now,” said another unnamed source. “The networks don’t carry his rallies . He’s doesn’t get interviews anymore. He can’t stand under the wing of Air Force One and gaggle [with reporters] for any hour,” said the anonymous aide. Trump’s press problems are more than a lack of attention.
Major networks and cable broadcast outlets cover Trump only when he’s making negative headlines with anti-Semite Kanye West and Neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes. Trump gets plenty of coverage on when it comes to negative publicity, just no coverage when he’s said or done anything good. When it comes to a third run for president, the press is Trump’s enemy, leaving 63% within the GOP looking for a fresh face in 2024. Trump’s conservative base continues to shrink as the GOP turns to a younger generation of leaders to run in 2024. Trump carries so much baggage from his past political battles that he’s practically radioactive, unable to draw anything but negative publicity to himself. Gone are the days when Trump could amuse large crowds, not knowing what to expect. Trump’s rallies today are more predictable, more repetitious than every before, losing some of his past base.
No one can run for president without getting some positive press, if for no other reason, that the U.S. media helps sell the candidate. Trump’s sold by the press as a has-been, someone who had his day but no longer gets the same kind of media attention when he was a novel candidate. Trump comes up in the news when talking about the new Special Counsel Jack Smith, considering indictments for mishandling classified information removed from the White House. Press likes to cover the Jan. 6 House Select Committee who’s had it in for Trump from Day One. House Democrats want 70-year-old Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland to charge Trump with various felonies related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riots or his mishandling of classified information. Whether Garland indicts Trump or not, he’ll receive only negative publicity as long he’s in the public eye, especially running in 2024.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
