Why Trump, Battling Media Odds, Is Declaring War on Fact Checkers

As attacks on negative media outlets Donald Trump increasingly louder, he faces fact-checkers.

What is fascinating about this coverage is that the journalists and organizations that provide it are treated like prophets handing out tablets on Mount Olympus. There is no hint, not a hint, that they might sometimes be wrong or exaggerate.

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In a new Gallup poll, 36 percent said they “do not trust” the media, while just 31 percent said they thought the media was fair and accurate, “a lot” or “a fair amount.” Disbelief was higher among Republicans than Democrats.

Now, skeptics will say that Trump lies a lot, some conclusions are clear, and it's worth trying to hold him accountable. I know these people work hard, I've done it a lot myself, but sometimes the fact checks fall into debatable gray areas, or even something Trump jokingly said at a rally.

I don't even need to argue that Kamala Harris draws extremely favorable coverage. Now that he's emerged from his cocoon in the light of Sleeping Pole, sitting down with Fox's Brett Baier today, he has a little time after sinking in. With Democrats in a panic, he is also ramping up his rhetoric against the former president. And we're seeing an explosion of columns and segments about what Harris needs to do to turn her campaign around: free advice from the media.

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as The Washington Post notes that Trump complained about fact-checking by ABC in his debate with Harris (when it appeared to be 3 to 1). And in rejecting “60 Minutes,” he cited the show’s tradition of fact-checking. (He also received criticism from CNBC yesterday after returning from an interview.)

Trump attends the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Chicago, IL. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

If there was one moment that crystallized the media's opposition to Trump, it was his appearance before the National Association of Black Journalists. The initial question was framed as him being a monstrous racist, why should any black voter support him. Harris' appearance, on the other hand, was practically a love fest.

Behind the scenes, there was a tense hour-long standoff in which Trump refused to come on stage when the facts were verified. When he finally took the stage, the crew lied and blamed the entire delay on audio issues.

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How does Trump say things that infuriate reporters, sometimes with provocative language, but that raise questions among many Republicans? D New York Times This explanation provides:

“One of the most peculiar aspects of Donald J. Trump's political appeal is this: Many people are happy to vote for him because they simply don't believe he will do many of the things he says he will do…

Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally at Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum on the campus of East Carolina University on October 13, 2024 in Greenville, North Carolina. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

“So they rationalize their speech, giving it the opposite benefit of the doubt.”

A 40-year-old Detroit editor was quoted as saying he doesn't believe Trump will purge the federal government and just hire election deniers: “It might just be for publicity, just to get the word out.”

Whether Trump wins or loses, he will have the support of about half the country. In 2020, there were 73 million voters.

And yet most of the mainstream media, with few exceptions, never understood the unbreakable bond between Trump and his supporters. Most tend to travel in circles where letting him be a “danger to democracy” is unthinkable. He has made inroads with black voters, especially black men, some say Democrats Make promises during elections and then forget about their communities.

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In fact, some pundits have dismissed Trump supporters as idiots or racist idiots. This “basket of grievances” approach means they fail to understand how much the country feels and what its legitimate grievances might be. This seems to require a massive reassessment of his approach to America. If Trump wins a second term, the media will not be big on self-reflection.