by
Hans Izaak Kriek*
Donald Trump is the first US president in a quarter of a century whose extreme media coverage is extremely negative. That's is the outcome of research from the prestigious university Harvard. During the first 100 days of Trump's presidency, only 20 percent of all the stories in the seven major US and three European media were positive about the leader. For Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, 41 percent of the messages were negative. George W. Bush had to report 57 percent negative messages, while reports about Bill Clinton were negative in 60 percent of the cases.
No Trump-related topic that the media reported about, from immigration to health care, was largely positive in the news. In reports about Trump, republicans were raised as a source in most cases (including 80 percent). The investigated US media were CNN, NBC, CBS, the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and Fox. In Europe, ARD, The Financial Times and the BBC were watched.
CNN and NBC are the least positive about Trump (93 percent of messages were negative). Not surprisingly, Fox's news was the least negative about Trump, although less than half of the messages (48 percent) were positive about the US president.
Media attack Republican leaders frequently harder than Democrats leaders. Every day media tackle the president. Trump's coverage during his first 100 days was negative even by the standards of today's hyper-critical press. Established media are turning him off daily, and the federal ‘red tape’ leaks like an old engine. Is there a 'Deep State' who attacks the presidency? I think yes! The Democrats hate Trump as president, and the media help to say it loud and clear. They already used the word impeachment for the Donald.
All the subjects of the president become heavily criticised because he must go, at any price. Trump attacks the media continually with words like ‘fake news’ and giving no answers anymore to questions of journalists. The battle is on and becomes harder and harder.
Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported that the FBI is investigating meetings that President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, had with Russian officials. The FBI and the House oversight committee - as well as several other congressional panels - are looking into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and possible connections between Russia and the Trump campaign. This journal reported: Russian ambassador told Moscow that Kushner wanted secret channel with Kremlin and also that Trump recently, during a talk with the Secretary of State, Lavrov, state secrets have been announced. Unknown secret sources said this. Some media accused Trump of treason. But in my opinion, a president has the right to deal confidential information for a policy purpose like terrorist fighting. Former presidents did this as well.
A source said the White House needs a different structure to focus on the ‘new reality’ that there would be continued leaks to the media from law enforcement and intelligence communities, leaks that have increased in frequency since Trump fired FBI Director Comey on May 9. This firing exposed that the current structure of the White House is not prepared for a one-front war, let alone a two-front war, the source said. “They need to have a structure in place that allows them to stay focused while also truly fighting back on these attacks and these leaks.”
The fight between Democrats and media against Trump is going on day after day. It seems that Trump's advisers are planning to establish a 'War Room' to combat mounting questions about communication between Russia and his presidential campaign before and after November's presidential election while bringing new aides into the White House, administration officials and persons close to Trump. The strategic shake-up comes as Republicans in Washington increasingly have fretted that the probe, continued chaos in the West Wing and Trump's steady slide in opinion polls will derail the president's drive to reform health care, cut taxes and rebuild the nation's infrastructure.
And the press? Professional journalism pledge suicide if they go over and over in a permanent campaign against the president. Only 32 percent of the American people has trust in the media; less than in Donald Trump. Established media may usefully use the 'Deep State', one thinks to push, but one becomes pressing. Trump is legally elected as president, by the angry white men, the crowd people, and that is people with voting rights. It is not up to leaking officials and campaign journalists to put down a president.
*Hans Izaak Kriek is international political commentator for European Business Review and editor-in-chief of Kriek Media
By: N. Peter Kramer
