Looking at the appointments of the future administration of the United States, one might think that Fox News is the news channel Donald Trump’s personnel hiring company.
– That in itself is a very good description, says the research doctor Oscar Winberg From the John Morton Center of the University of Turku.
The AP news agency has stated that Trump is forming his cabinet as if he were acting in a TV series.
Trump highly values the experience of appearing on TV.
Candidate for Minister of Transport Sean Duffy began his public career in MTV’s reality TV series Real World Boston and after his career as a member of parliament has been a presenter on the Fox Business channel.
Social Security with Medicare director nominee By Mehmet Oz was a popular talk show Dr Oz Show on various channels for years, and a candidate for Minister of Defense Pete Hegseth has been one of Fox News’ weekend morning hosts.
– People like Pete Hegseth have no experience in administration, but suddenly they should be in charge of three million personnel in the Ministry of Defense. It’s quite a challenge, Winberg, who has studied the relationship between US politics and the media, thinks.
Democrat MP Jim Himes stated about the appointment processthat the United States is becoming “the world’s first nuclear-armed reality TV show.”
A dozen or so ministerial candidates, leaders or advisors have previously been on television as presenters or commentators.
The mutually reinforcing cycle of TV and politics
According to Oscar Winberg, there is a self-repeating cycle between Trump and Fox News.
Fox News feeds ideas and people into Trump’s consciousness. Trump grabs them. Then Fox News reports what Trump has done and describes him as a good leader.
– Trump and Fox News live as if in symbiosis, says Winberg.
He states that self-lobbying is now at a completely new level in the United States.
Those seeking a position in the cabinet believe that the ministerial position will be released by speaking favorably of Trump on social media or on TV morning programs, where they go to give a sample of their suitability for the role. In recent days, the candidates for the Minister of Finance have been busy appearing on the CNBC financial news channel before yesterday’s election.
– Trump has also understood particularly well that cable news channels are as much entertainment as news. And he knows how to take advantage of this, Winberg reminds.
Fox News used Trump himself as a political commentator Barack Obama’s during the Diili TV series that hit the season, even though Trump had no political experience.
– This was a clear example of how celebrities are included in the discussion about politics for the sake of entertainment, not political experience, says Winberg.
Television shapes Trump’s world view
Already in Trump’s first term, it became clear how he formed his world view through television.
This became clear especially during the corona pandemic, when Trump seemed to get more information from cable news discussions than from the world’s best experts at his disposal.
See how Trump put his experts in an awkward position during the pandemic when considering unusual covid treatments.
– I can’t say whether it was a conscious strategy or whether it was due to the fact that he prefers to watch TV rather than read the assistants’ background papers, Winberg says.
The media is preparing for hard times
In his first term, Trump bypassed the traditional press. The White House also did not have daily briefings led by the press chief.
Trump preferred to speak directly via Fox News or a social media outlet without having to answer challenging questions.
– It is very possible that the same thing will happen again. In this case, Trump can once again direct the media discussion, says Winberg.
The press knows they will be in a tight spot and prepares for a chase. It is prepared for Trump to attack freedom of the press.
We got a taste of the preparation even before the elections. At the will of their owners, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times abandoned their long tradition of supporting either candidate.
During his campaign, Trump held up the possibility of revoking the licenses of unsavory TV companies and joked about shooting journalists, which you can watch in the video below.
Trump has soft methods at his disposal. For example, he can limit who gets a White House press pass.
More decisive means include prosecutions and investigations.
Oscar Winberg says that the administration can declare even trivial things classified. However, if they end up in the media, Trump can use his administration to investigate the leaks and bind journalists to lengthy legal processes.
In his first term, Trump is also suspected of instructing the Ministry of Finance to conduct a tax investigation of his opponents.
– This is a method that Nixon also used against journalists, Winberg recalls.
Editor-in-Chief of The New Yorker David Remnick said Wednesday public service on the NPR radio channelthat Trump’s attitude towards the press is similar to Vladimir Putin. Both shape the prevailing understanding of what truth means.
In his attitude to the media, Trump resembles Putin.
David Remnick, The New Yorker
– There have always been lies in the White House, but Trump has changed the game, Remnick said.
In the same program, the former editor-in-chief of The Washington Post Martin Baron warned that Trump’s sights extend beyond the press.
– The goal is to limit anyone’s freedom of expression, Remnick said.
During Trump’s first term, The Washington Post adopted The Democracy Dies in the Dark as its slogan. The motto is now put to the real test.
– To what extent journalists and the media will challenge Trump remains to be seen, says Oscar Winberg.
AP, Reuters
Other sources: The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, Fox News, CNN, Columbia Journalism Review, Media Matters for America.