President Trump has not held back in voicing his displeasure with major news organizations that he feels have been adversarial since the presidential election last fall.
He has also skillfully used his position in the White House to exert influence in this ongoing media conflict. Throughout this period, he’s become a regular media presence, making daily appearances from the White House and other venues.
Here are five media outlets that have found themselves in Trump’s line of fire during his initial 100 days in office.
CBS
Trump has filed a lawsuit against CBS News and its parent company, Paramount Global, following an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, which aired just prior to the election on “60 Minutes.”
He alleges that the program intentionally edited Harris’ interview to cast her in a more favorable light. Brendan Kerr, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, suggests that this could form the basis of a legitimate complaint regarding “news distortion.”
Aside from this, Paramount executives are eager to smooth over relations, as they navigate a potential megamerger involving Skydance that requires regulatory approval from the administration.
Throughout this legal battle, “60 Minutes” has continued to cover the Trump administration, featuring segments on lawyers and law firms targeted by the president’s executive orders.
If Paramount ultimately reaches a settlement with Trump, it would mark a significant win for him in his media engagement, and could also enhance the enforcement power of such a significant media player—a situation some view as detrimental for what is considered a leading news program.
NPR
Public broadcasters like NPR and PBS have historically faced criticism from Republicans and Trump’s supporters, but the intensity of scrutiny they faced during his second term appears unprecedented.
Recently, Trump issued an executive order aiming to withdraw funding from NPR and its affiliates, arguing that the organization has failed to provide “fair, accurate, or impartial” coverage of current events.
This move has gained traction in Congress, leading to tough questioning of NPR CEO Katherine Maher regarding editorial decisions made within the public media landscape.
Supporters of NPR argue that cutting federal funding could severely impact local communities, especially in rural areas lacking robust news coverage.
Despite these concerns, Trump remains adamant about reallocating taxpayer dollars from NPR’s budget, leveraging his platform to pressure lawmakers who allocate funding to media organizations each year.
AP
After Trump declared the Gulf of Mexico would be renamed the US Gulf, the Associated Press announced that it would not update its Stylebook to accommodate this change.
This decision led to the White House banning the AP from its press pool, although the AP later succeeded in legal action against the White House regarding this ban.
Despite this legal win, Trump has continued to launch verbal assaults on wire services, claiming that the AP and others have been consistently negative about his administration and its dealings.
“They have no favors to offer us,” he remarked, commenting on the lack of positive coverage.
Atlantic Ocean
Jeffrey Goldberg, editor at the Atlantic, stumbled upon a significant story during Trump’s first 100 days when he was accidentally added to a group chat with high-ranking intelligence and defense officials.
This chat discussed sensitive military operations in Yemen, leading to much speculation and press coverage following reports by Goldberg.
Despite the chatter that the president’s team worked diligently to discredit, Trump himself expressed indifference, stating, “I don’t really follow the Atlantic; I think it’s a magazine in decline.”
During his initial term, Trump was particularly outraged by a narrative from the Atlantic suggesting he referred to American soldiers as “suckers” and “losers,” a claim he vehemently denied.
However, in some surprising moves, Trump has granted interviews to outlets that have criticized him, including the Atlantic, in recent months.
Wall Street Journal
Among national publications, the Wall Street Journal has been notably vocal in opposing Trump’s policies, particularly concerning trade and economic issues.
Over the weekend, Trump chose not to engage with reporters from the Journal aboard Air Force One, denouncing those he labeled “rotten newspapers.”
He criticized the Wall Street Journal as being “China-oriented,” further expressing disdain for Rupert Murdoch, the billionaire owner, whom he has labeled a “globalist.”
The Journal has clarified that its editorial perspectives operate independently from its news division, but Trump’s view of their coverage reflects his perception of Murdoch’s stance on the decisions he makes.
“I’ve gone through the Wall Street Journal a lot,” he stated after his second term began, following a meeting with Murdoch. “We don’t see eye to eye on everything.”
