Mysteries abound as to why it is that President-elect Donald Trump – the embodiment of the alpha male to his followers, is forever whining over press coverage, while also emphasizing that he sees himself as the ultimate victim. The man was just elected to the most powerful office in the world – how is it that he can’t just waive off challenging stuff with a shrug and- “Tough! I won – ask anything!” But the ever-golfing guy just doesn’t have that club in his bag. He came out of his “Meet the Press” interview with Kristen Welker complaining about it all being so unfair. This sounds very familiar and isn’t likely to change soon. Still – he just got elected by a surprising margin. If there was ever a time to be effectively self-assured this would otherwise be it. Perplexing. Not really.
His complaints are somewhat unique in that in this case he plead his case directly to Welker at the end of the interview:
“The press was obviously unfair to me. The press. No president has ever gotten treated by !the press like I was. And yet I got more votes than any Republican candidate in history, by far.”
Well, maybe the press is awfully tough, except the press has been tough on everyone in the White House – Reagan was forever battling with Sam Donaldson. Clinton didn’t have a good time – nor should he have, during the Lewinsky scandal. Obama was sure to complain about what he saw as self-satisfied and slanted coverage – “Dems in Disarray.” And yes, Trump faced tough coverage but he was the most hostile candidate and president to ever occupy the office, never mind real issues with “fact.” As broken down by Mediaite:
As he explained why he appeared on Meet the Press, he told Welker, “You’re very hostile,” to which she replied, “Well, hopefully, you thought it was a fair interview. We covered a lot of policy grounds.”
“It’s fair only in that you allowed me to say what I say,” Trump replied.” But you know, the answers to questions are, you know, pretty nasty. But. But look, because I’ve seen you interview other people like Biden.”
It was very fair for Welker to point out that she has never interviewed President Biden which sort of takes a lot of steam out of the “You were mean to me compared to when I saw you with Biden” argument. When getting something totally wrong, he sounds cliche, complaining just to complain. Having whiffed on Welker, he moved on to another target:
“I’ve seen George Stephanopoulos interview. But it’s and he’s a tough interviewer. It’s the softest interview I’ve seen. CNN interview. They give these soft. You know, what’s your favorite ice cream? It’s it’s a whole different deal. I don’t understand why. You know, you would think the press would like to see strong borders, great education, a powerful military. So we have a country left and all these different things, and somehow they don’t want to see that.”
It is absolutely possible to want strong borders, great education, and powerful military but disagree on how to get there. What if Welker and others believe that the military is obviously strongest when diversified such that everyone has an opportunity to prove themselves as worthy of top positions. (Top positions only go to those who perform at the top without regard to who he or she may be.)
The above ignores the fact that it really doesn’t matter what the press favors, the job is to challenge a president’s actions in getting there while also testing the administrations’ assertion of fact that put it in that position. The interpretation of competing versions of any given story is the press’s responsibility. (I have it easy with opinion on wants and results. Setting out facts with no slant is far more difficult.)
Back to the constant complaints. He presents himself as the ultimate tough guy. But one often looks far tougher when not incessantly complaining to a reporter and instead using a satisfied chuckle and wave, “I got this, report whatever you want. I know what’s happening and I’ll decide…” A self-assured manner is the real steel conveying a sense of tough impenetrability. Again, he just won’t do it unless the presentation is exactly how he wants it.
So the situation is otherwise normal. It is not normal however when he calls the media the “enemy of the people” – a staple of rising dictators wanting citizens more angrier and doubting media coverage over the actual situation as it stands. On top of that, he has threatened to yank the licenses to broadcast on the public airwaves over what he interprets as unfair coverage. Control of the media is the sin qua non of a dictatorship. For that very reason it has been anathema to the premise on which the nation was built – part of what made America great at any point in history. Oh – and guaranteed by the First Amendment (The first one, not second, fourth, fifth – etc. first.)
He certainly thinks he’s great. He also certainly now has almost limitless power. So why care albout what is asked or even told? The confidence to say “Well, I totally disagree and I”m going to do it my way regardless, so – anyway, do as you usually do. Thanks” would be the alpha way to go about it.
But, no.
God Bless: I can be reached at [email protected], on “X” @JasonMiciak, and now follow on Bluesky
‘Still – he just got elected by a surprising margin.’
Ah yes, 49.9%, less than half the popular vote, again.
The lowest margin since Bush.
Although the fact that he won sure shows the power of the money backing him.
America, the best democracy for sale.