Media
Journalists Calling Trump 'Presidential' Criticized for Setting a Low Bar
Reporters and commentators such as Van Jones and Chris Wallace are getting blowback from George Takei, Michael Moore, and others.
March 01 2017 2:24 AM EST
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Reporters and commentators such as Van Jones and Chris Wallace are getting blowback from George Takei, Michael Moore, and others.
For reading off a teleprompter and not using the tone of a schoolyard bully, Donald Trump is getting unprecedented (unpresidented?) praise from the industry he assailed last week as "the enemy of the people."
Journalists and commentators from outlets including CNN, National Public Radio, and The New York Times are calling Trump's Tuesday night speech to a joint session of Congress "presidential." Even CNN contributor Van Jones, a frequent Trump critic, praised at least some aspects of the address. These members of the media, however, are getting plenty of blowback too.
Jones singled out the moment when Trump paid tribute to Navy SEAL Ryan Owens, who died this year in a raid on Yemen designed to capture or kill terrorists or at least gather intelligence. As the cameras focused on Owens's tearful widow, Carryn, who was in the audience, Trump said her husband's deed was "etched into eternity."
"That was one of the most extraordinary moments you have ever seen in American politics, period," Jones said on CNN. He acknowledged that there is still much reason to fear and oppose Trump, but added, "He did something tonight that you cannot take away from him. He became president of the United States."
Now, one could point out that Trump has been president since he was sworn in January 20. But some members of the media are commending him simply for acting like a president instead of a spoiled toddler who didn't get his way.
"Trump is so erratic, spouting falsehoods on the regular and boasting about his election win at inappropriate times, that all it takes to impress many journalists is a single hour of acting like what he is -- president of the United States. Trump's bar is practically subterranean, and the media grades him on a curve," Callum Borchers wrote in The Washington Post.
Others characterizing Trump as presidential included CNN's Jonathan Karl:
\u201cThis is @realDonaldTrump at his most presidential -- his most effective speech yet\u201d— Jonathan Karl (@Jonathan Karl) 1488335816
Chris Wallace, who's generally one of the less biased people at Fox News:
\u201cChris Wallace: "I feel like tonight @realDonaldTrump became the President of the United States." #TrumpAddress https://t.co/dAlG7h8ytD\u201d— Fox News (@Fox News) 1488338998
The Huffington Post's Sam Stein:
\u201ci don\u2019t get liberals who can\u2019t acknowledge that this is an effective speech for Trump. Yes, standards are different. but it is.\u201d— Sam Stein (@Sam Stein) 1488337668
NPR: "Donald Trump's first speech to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night was the occasion for his most presidential performance to date, balancing a reprise of his angry campaign themes with a recitation of hopes and dreams for the nation."
The New York Times: "The most presidential speech Mr. Trump has ever given -- delivered at precisely the moment he needed to project sobriety, seriousness of purpose and self-discipline."
But the blowback came swiftly -- in Borchers's commentary, noted above, plus a barrage of tweets and other opinion pieces:
\u201cWe should expect Trump--a TV personality--to give a good performance. Because that's what that was. Let's not mistake it for leadership.\u201d— George Takei (@George Takei) 1488397851
\u201cDon\u2019t Be Fooled by Trump\u2019s Latest Reality Show https://t.co/Ot3O6uOjzY\u201d— The Nation (@The Nation) 1488394664
\u201cWhen Obama read off a teleprompter he was called stupid and lazy. When Trump does it, he's presidential. @VanJones68\u201d— @kathapollitt@mastodon.social (@@kathapollitt@mastodon.social) 1488394464
\u201cWhen you start your address basically apologizing for what you fucked up last week, you're not off to a good start. #trumpaddress\u201d— Zack Ford (@Zack Ford) 1488334263
\u201cThat thing that happens when the press is bullied and threatened.\u201d— Michael Moore (@Michael Moore) 1488392243
And go here for The Advocate's take.
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