Donald Trump is in the midst of a strategy shift as the heart of campaign season approaches. That began with a very unexpected return to social media giant X on Monday morning and will culminate with an interview with Elon Musk.
SEE: EU Warns Elon Musk to Behave Ahead of His Trump Interview, and Musk Is Having None of It
The former president, having seen the presidential race reset due to Democratic Party elites shoving Joe Biden aside and coronating Kamala Harris, is hoping to retake the initiative. Part of that is going around the insanely biased national press that has been hyperventilating over Harris since she became the presumptive nominee.
Sure, she’s one of the worst politicians in history, with a long record of failure, but have you considered she’s “brat” and once worked at McDonald’s? That’s been about the extent of the press coverage she’s received as an army of “journalists” have sought to “reintroduce” her to the public for the umpteenth time by profusely singing her praises.
They’ve taken a decidedly different tack with Trump, though. On CNN, Axios reporter Sara Fischer complained that the former president might (gasp!) “say whatever he wants.”
Axios’ @sarafischer: “@elonmusk will let Donald Trump speak all of the falsehoods & misinformation that he wants. I mean, he’s not a journalist … Does he want to be fact checking all the information? So I think it‘s just a platform for Trump to come out say whatever he wants.” pic.twitter.com/13w1MVzzGD
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) August 12, 2024
FISCHER: Well, for one, I think it’s going to be a very light-hearted conversation. Because Elon Musk has come out and endorsed Donald Trump, I expect this a bromance type of an interview where they’re supporting each other. I think Elon Musk will let Donald Trump speak all the falsehoods and misinformation that he wants. I mean, he’s not a journalist, it’s not his job nor necessarily does he want to be fact-checking all the information. I think it’s just a platform for Donald Trump to say whatever he wants.
But the thing to remember, Kasie, is that like, the interview audience here is what Donald Trump needs. You see JD Vance going on Face the Nation, Sunday Shows, traditional media because he needs to get his name out there. Donald Trump’s going the opposite route, he’s talking to streamers and podcasters. He’s going on X. He wants to rally up that sort of fringe online base. That’s what Donald Trump is doing here tonight.
Woah, woah, woah. Donald Trump may “say whatever he wants?” What does he think this is? The United States of America?
That entire exchange is just mind-numbing. Here we have supposed journalists fretting that someone might dare to exercise their right to free speech without the press overlords being consulted. I mean, Musk might not live “fact-check” Trump with incredibly obtuse and unfair characterizations. Oh, my heavens!
Meanwhile, Kamala Harris has done zero interviews since successfully committing a coup against the sitting president and becoming the Democrat nominee without winning a single vote. Is CNN mad about the disrespect she’s showing them? Are they as worried about her taking no questions as they are about Trump taking questions from someone who doesn’t hate his guts? Of course, they aren’t.
The self-righteousness of the press is nauseating. They truly believe they should be able to control the flow of information. Luckily, that’s not how it works anymore. Candidates for office can and will go around them to speak directly to the people. That’s far more interesting than seeing Dana Bash or Kasie Hunt gnash their teeth at statements they find politically inconvenient. Mainstream press interviews have their place, but they are no longer the pinnacle and are certainly no longer the only option.
