A new report examines President Donald Trump's ongoing feud with the media — and concludes Trump has morphed into "America's highest-profile press critic."
Politico senior media writer Jack Shafer penned his thoughts about Trump and the media for a Wednesday column.
Shafer noted other presidents have expressed their dislike for the media, so Trump is not alone in criticizing his critics who work in TV, radio, print, and online media. The main difference, according to Shafer, is Trump attacks and tries to discredit stories and reporters on a regular basis.
His preferred medium for that is Twitter.
"The press has accepted the role of the opposition party if not the designation," Shafer wrote. "In press conferences and news stories, the national media give Trump the brand of guff we once heard coming from the firebrand wing of the Democratic Party. This is not to say reporters are in the tank for the Democrats — only that Trump's confrontational style drives them to dig in and return fire.
"Trump loves to directly challenge reporters . . . Trump has arranged the dynamic in such a way that he appears both victim and victor in every clash."
Shafer noted journalists grow frustrated when Trump paints stories as fake news.
"The effect has been maddening for journalists, who have exhausted themselves by writing counter-responses that say, 'No! We're on the level!' — the effect of which is to reinforce the impression among the president's most loyal subjects that they are indeed the opposition party," he wrote.
Trump's Twitter usage has been the source of much discussion. He's come under fire for criticizing not only the media but other politicians, such as Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.
Political historian Victor Davis Hanson recently concluded Trump has won the daily Twitter war he wages with the media and should cease using the social media network.
"He should now just declare victory, retire as Twitter champ, hang up his tweeting gloves, and leave the slap-down ring for others," Hanson wrote.
A Twitter contractor actually deactivated Trump's account in November, although he said it was a mistake and he never intended for that to happen.
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