Trump’s War on Media

On July 4, 2019 many Americans living in Washington DC were awoken by a sound they had never heard before. Tanks were moving down each of the major streets of the city, and bomber planes were flying overhead. Their destination : the newly rebranded Independence Day celebrations at the Lincoln Memorial. American President Donald Trump celebrated the country’s 243rd Independence Day surrounded by the might of the largest military on earth. He delivered his ceremonial speech flanked by tanks and armoured vehicles. As only the third Independence Day with a martial tone since the first in 1776, many people are left confused by the sitting President’s decisions. I believe that these celebrations were a shameless manipulation of media attention to promote Trump’s own political agenda. 

Since before his election in 2016, Donald Trump has had a tumultuous relationship with traditional media. Instead, he has turned to Twitter as a replacement for journalists and news editors; since campaigning for the presidency in 2015, he has sent over 42 000 politically oriented tweets. Press briefings have become infrequent events at the White House and reporters have to beware of the questions they ask, in November 2018 CNN Reporter Jim Acosta’s press pass was suspended after a heated confrontation with the President during a news conference. Trump has repeatedly referred to well reputed Media such as the New York Times as fake news, going so far as to publicly denounce the editors of this widely read paper. Trump takes advantage of his strained relationship with traditional media to manipulate news. For example, after his inauguration photos were released by his administration purportedly portraying the crowd attending this event, but in fact professional fact checkers of the New York Times discovered that these photos dated from the first inauguration of former American President Barack Obama. The only news periodically released to traditional media platforms by the White House press secretary is about events in which Trump takes a starring role, such as the most recent Independence Day celebrations. 

Typically Independence Day ceremonies in Washington DC were apolitical. In the past, Presidents delivered speeches on Independence Day about the year’s achievements, however, this year, Donald Trump used the day as a platform to further his own political agenda. In place of a traditional Independence Day celebration he created a spectacle for the people, a self-styled “extravaganza” rebranded as a Salute to America. With the upcoming election for the next presidential term, Trump is desperate to reengage with his base. Many of his supporters commend the new form of these celebrations, stating that the strong military presence will remind other onlookers “not to mess with America.” 

I firmly believe that the Donald Trump administration seized the Independence Day celebrations as an opportunity to further his political career. The tanks and fighter planes became the sideshow act to his one man press circus. As citizens, it is important to look critically at the information surrounding politicians; where is the information coming from and what biases are presented. Only this way can we ensure that news is being accurately portrayed.