Why Trump, Battling Media Hostility, is Declaring War on Fact-Checkers
Donald Trump is currently engaged in a heated battle with fact-checkers as he faces increasing media hostility. This conflict has been highlighted by recent Gallup polls showing that 36% of Americans have “no trust at all” in the media, while only 31% find the media to be fair and accurate a “great deal” or “fair amount.” The distrust is particularly pronounced among Republicans.
Trump’s campaign has been marred by numerous false and misleading claims, including assertions about immigration, the economy, and his opponents. For instance, during a recent rally in Pennsylvania, Trump made at least 40 distinct false claims, ranging from inaccuracies about Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton to misleading statements about his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris.
The media’s fact-checking efforts have been a focal point of Trump’s criticism. He has complained about fact-checking by ABC during debates and has even cited the tradition of fact-checking by “60 Minutes” as a reason for declining an interview with the program. This tension is further exacerbated by the contrast in media coverage between Trump and Harris, with Harris receiving more favorable coverage despite her own campaign’s challenges.
