White House Criticizes Media with New Website Feature

This past Friday, the White House introduced a new section on its website aimed at calling out media outlets for what they describe as “fake news” regarding the Trump administration’s actions.

White House press secretary Caroline Levitt shared this update, stating, “We are holding fake news accountable like never before.” Sometimes, it feels like the line between fact and fiction is a bit blurry, right?

The website identified outlets like CBS News, The Boston Globe, and The Independent as “Criminals of the Week.” This label was applied in reaction to their coverage of a video featuring several Congressional Democrats, described as “Six Instigators,” who allegedly urged military members to disobey President Trump’s commands in the face of what they claimed were unlawful orders.

On November 18, Senator Elissa Slotkin from Michigan and five fellow Congressional Democrats, all with military or intelligence backgrounds, appeared in that controversial video, calling for their peers in service to disregard Trump’s directives.

The White House’s site contended that these news organizations misrepresented Trump’s calls for accountability regarding the video, suggesting an attempt to incite disobedience among service members. The statement elaborated, noting, “The media mistakenly reported that President Trump called for the ‘execution’ of Congress members who sought accountability for incitement.” It emphasized that all orders issued by Trump were lawful, accusing Democrats and the media of dangerously implying otherwise.

Additionally, a “Hall of Shame” was created, highlighting other media outlets the White House believes exhibit various reporting issues. It includes terms like “left-wing insanity,” “mischaracters,” and “false claims.” Notable outlets listed include MSNBC, CNN, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.

In recent years, numerous media corporations have faced criticism for inaccuracies in their reporting on Trump, with some settling defamation lawsuits. A notable example involves the BBC, which faced backlash after documents surfaced showing how they edited segments of Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech in a way that misrepresented the message. The BBC later issued an apology to Trump and confirmed it would not air the related documentary again.

Furthermore, Trump secured a $15 million settlement from ABC after a high-profile defamation case, where a network host incorrectly stated Trump had been found “responsible for rape.” This was part of an ongoing pattern in the media’s portrayal of him.

These developments seem to highlight the ongoing tension between the Trump administration and various media outlets. Whether it’s litigation or public discourse, it’s clear that the battle over narrative is very much alive.