Punishing the American media for Trump
Anyone who knows the United States understands that its power does not lie in the dollar or weapons, but rather in its media. The U.S. operates within a system based on freedom of opinion and media democracy, which is truly the fourth estate.
On this basis, when President Donald Trump banned some media outlets from entering the White House, the reaction from American television networks was stunning. They denied him a voice through silent coverage, a tactic that has an even greater impact on a political figure, especially during a highly sensitive mid-term election season for Trump. At this precise moment, polls revealed that his approval rating had dropped below 35 percent.
This is why we see that the man may be losing the weapon of the media, despite his ability to occupy the world’s attention with a single tweet. However, that is no longer enough. Therefore, when he announced a few days ago the launch of “Trump TV,” it was clear he was trying to circumvent his own decision. Yet, he eventually announced in a tweet on his platform “Truth Social” the possibility of “CNN” and “Politico” returning to the White House, after seeing the results of the silent punishment he faced, even from networks close to him, such as “Fox News.”
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One day later, three major media organizations—“CNN,” “MS Now,” and “Politico”—filed a lawsuit against the president, alleging that he is violating their constitutional rights to cover presidential activities and news. They argued that he has no right to ban them simply because he dislikes what he calls their “negative” news coverage, and that he cannot allow only media outlets that praise him to cover events. They emphasized that the public has the right to receive “complete and timely information” regarding the performance of his administration.
Here, the dispute is no longer merely between a government institution and a media outlet; rather, it reveals the extent of the power of the media and the judiciary, and how democracy is practiced. The president of the world’s most powerful state cannot stand against local media outlets, especially when the judiciary rules in their favor and the presidency must comply.
We must pause here to consider the facts revealed by the presidential decision. First, it was taken against the strongest weapon in the United States. It is well known that the American citizen is a media-driven entity, constantly following the news. We all know how “Hollywood” shaped the American character and turned defeats in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan into victories in the American popular memory.
Therefore, when the president challenges a media outlet, it is like shooting himself in the foot, because he heavily relies on the media. If he seeks to win the mid-term elections for his “Republican” party, the coverage will likely favor the Democratic Party.
Regardless of the stance of American media outlets toward Muslims or Arab issues, they ultimately publish reports criticizing the war and revealing secrets related to the Arab region that lead to international investigations. It is true that they do not operate in a vacuum and serve their own interests. Nevertheless, I doubt that Trump will be able to control the media.
I believe Trump does not possess many constitutional tools to subdue the media. Therefore, his decision is a fatal blow to the election campaign, as most candidates rely on media campaigns, and the impact will be evident even in local campaign streams.
President Trump’s latest decision has exposed the dilemma facing American media and the pressure exerted by the White House on it. However, the fourth estate in the United States always prevails.
