Opinion; Trump Twitter war with news media a struggle for influence
Twitter has long been a forum for witty remarks, snide comments and the occasional insightful thought. But lately, it has become the medium for President Donald Trump’s declarations of frustration, especially towards the news media.
The latest Twitter outburst began Oct. 11 after Trump accused NBC News of making up a story about his plans for the United States nuclear arsenal. Trump claimed that NBC’s story was “pure fiction,” and, in a tweet later that day, questioned their ability to report accurate news.
“Network news has become so partisan, distorted and fake that licenses must be challenged and, if appropriate, revoked. Not fair to public!” Trump tweeted.
Trump is the first president to use Twitter in such an aggressive and unfiltered way. Trump has the right to express his opinion, but the president’s airing of personal grievances comes across as petty and unprofessional. While it is sometimes refreshing to hear honesty amid so much stilted political correctness, Trump’s continual criticisms of those who oppose him only seem to increase the tension between him and his opponents.
Many news organizations, including CNN and The New York Times, have since published articles in response to this supposed threat against network news. The ensuing cries of impending oppression has many up in arms about protecting the freedom of the press.
But the real question is, what will happen next?
Trump does not have the authority to revoke a news organization’s license, and that is not what he is threatening to do. According to a Fox News article, the only real initiative the president can legally take is to file a suit for libel or slander – which any citizen is entitled to do. In the case of directly falsified news, the Federal Communications Commission would oversee issuing penalties or revoking licenses.
“The FCC may act to protect the public interest when it has received documented evidence, such as testimony from persons who have direct personal knowledge of an intentional falsification of the news,” the Federal Communications Commission said on its website. “Without such documented evidence, the FCC generally cannot intervene.”
This does not count slanted or biased news, as long as the articles are factual. This also does not include opinion-based articles that may take a negative view of the current president. Differing opinions are not cause for suppression, or at least in the United States.
It seems like the president and the press are at a stalemate. However, a recent POLITICO/Morning Consult poll stated that 46 percent of voters believe the media fabricates stories about Trump. This is a serious perception that may be influenced by the president’s prolific tweets about fake news.
If almost half of voters believe that the media reports fake news on Trump, then the president might not even need to file a suit against “false news” broadcasting agencies. Trump’s avid use of Twitter ensures that, whether his words strike a nerve or simply make you roll your eyes, the president’s voice is consistently in the ears of the American people.
This unending skirmish between news media and Trump is, in the end, not about truth. It is about influence.
One party in this feud cannot claim victory over the other without hard, cold evidence, which neither side has effectually produced. Trump and the news industry are in a virtual power play, which has descended into a 140-character shouting match.
The president is using Twitter as his platform to speak directly to the people, just as news agencies have done for decades through the newspaper, radio, TV and the internet. It is now up to the people to choose what they believe.