Itâs worth devoting some attention to how the press did Trumpâs work for him by portraying the aspiring authoritarian exactly how he wants to be seen â as a heroic strongman and newfound champion of political unity.
Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination for a third time on July 17 with a rambling, incoherent mess of a speech that offered a terrifying vision for America during its rare moments of coherence.
His performance was widely regarded as a disaster. But a range of major newspapers didnât cover it that way.
More than a few headlines actually raved about it.
đčThe Boston Globe: âIn a departure, Trump calls for unity, healing in America.â
đčThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution: âTrump urges unity after assassination attempt while proposing sweeping populist agenda.â
đčBaltimore Sun: âSubdued Trump describes assassination try, accepts nomination.â
As media critic Parker Molloy pointed out, these papers seemingly reported on Trumpâs speech based on the prepared remarks, not the speech as he actually delivered it.
Trump will never pivot to unity because his whole brand is divisiveness
Not long after Trumpâs attempted assassination at a Pennsylvania rally on July 13, mainstream outlets went along with the Trump campaignâs narrative:
The shocking event had changed him for the better.
When Trump made his first appearance at the RNC on July 15,
đčthe New York Times described him as âsubduedâ and claimed he showed a âglimpse of vulnerability.â
But Trump had already demonstrated he was unchanged earlier that day when he posted on Truth Social that
his idea of âUniting our Nationâ was the
dismissal of all criminal charges against him.
https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-assassination-attempt-media-criticism