Staff Reports
As the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s presidency wrap up, the media landscape is buzzing with a medley of polls and pundits weighing in on the president’s approval ratings. Unfortunately for Trump, those ratings are taking a nosedive, with some reports claiming they’ve dipped into the mid-40s, and even as low as 39% according to ABC. This marks what some are calling the lowest approval rating for a president after their first 100 days in about 80 years. The reason? Well, the media seems to think it’s mostly their own negative coverage that’s at fault, and it’s hard to argue against that assessment. With statistics from the Media Research Center suggesting that over 90% of coverage has been negative, it’s clear that a president like Trump, who loves to stir the pot, is going to have a rough go in the press.
Critics of the administration have been particularly vocal about Trump’s trade policies and tariffs, claiming he’s tampering with an economy that was reportedly thriving upon his taking office. Funny enough, this alleged economic strength coexisted with skyrocketing household debt and ballooning prices — seemingly a classic case of “don’t believe everything you hear.” It’s as if the market was soaring high on the surface while the real economy was dealing with a migraine—a little like wearing a flashy new hat while having your shoes in the mud.
Meanwhile, Trump managed to skip another White House Correspondents’ Dinner, affectionately dubbed the “nerd prom” by many. This annual gathering of the media elite is where journalists have the chance to pat themselves on the back, while everyone else can roll their eyes. Not to be outdone, the dinner this year featured a notable highlight: an Axios reporter received an award for managing to report on President Biden’s cognitive challenges—information many already suspected but few would dare to bring to light. In a twist that only seems fitting for an event like this, the reporter’s “important” discoveries came only after Biden’s shaky debate performance.
As awards were handed out, the president of the White House Correspondents’ Association made it a point to reflect on journalistic integrity—or rather the lack thereof. After all, in an era where the media seems to be as politically swayed as ever, it’s hard to see how reporters hold the power to challenge both sides equally. One could almost imagine this as a plot twist in a sitcom, where the writers always lean to make one character look more like the hero while portraying the other in a more villainous light.
Sifting through the labyrinth of media narratives, it seems some journalists are courageously beginning to acknowledge their responsibilities. Yet, this dawning realization feels a bit like finding your car keys in the fridge – surprising but a tad too late. After all, how can one expect trust when the very institutions meant to provide checks and balances appear to instead play favorites? Just like that odd mess with 60 Minutes, where a segment focused on Kamala Harris was edited to make her seem far more competent than her original candid blunders suggested.
In the end, as Trump’s administration faces an uphill battle against unfavorable media coverage and criticism over economic policies, it remains to be seen how these dynamics will play out moving forward. The stakes are high, but what’s increasingly clear is that the game of politics is as much a strategic position as it is a juggling act. In a time where every tweet and every news segment rolls out to millions within seconds, one can only wonder how long this cycle can continue — all while the American public is left to navigate through it.
