The President & the Press

On his first full day in office in January, President Donald Trump put the news media on notice: A new sheriff was in town.

“I have a running war with the media,” Trump said. “They are among the most dishonest human beings on Earth.” 

Other members of the Trump administration quickly lashed out. Sean Spicer, the president’s press secretary (or spokesperson), clashed with reporters during his first press briefing. Stephen Bannon, the president’s chief strategist, called the media “the opposition party” and suggested that the press should “keep its mouth shut.”

Trump has had an ongoing battle with the mainstream media. He claims traditional media institutions, such as newspapers, radio, and television news, have a liberal bias and treat him unfairly. During his campaign, Trump allied himself with conservative alternative media outlets. One is Breitbart, formerly run by Bannon, which many media experts say publishes misleading and unsubstantiated information.

Mainstream reporters and commentators immediately began to push back at the combative tone of the new administration. They say they are treating Trump with the same level of scrutiny as any other president or public figure.

On his first full day in office in January, President Donald Trump put the news media on notice: A new sheriff was in town.

“I have a running war with the media,” Trump said. “They are among the most dishonest human beings on Earth.”

Other members of the Trump administration quickly lashed out. Sean Spicer is the president’s press secretary (or spokesperson). He clashed with reporters during his first press briefing. Stephen Bannon is the president’s chief strategist. He called the media “the opposition party.” Bannon suggested that the press should “keep its mouth shut.”

Trump has had an ongoing battle with the mainstream media. He claims traditional media institutions, such as newspapers, radio, and television news, have a liberal bias and treat him unfairly. During his campaign, Trump allied himself with conservative alternative media outlets. One is Breitbart, formerly run by Bannon. Many media experts say Breitbart publishes misleading and unproven information.

Mainstream reporters and commentators immediately began to push back at the aggressive tone of the new administration. They say they are treating Trump with the same level of scrutiny as any other president or public figure.

In some ways, the face-off between a president and the media that covers the White House isn’t new. The role of the press as a check on government power has long been central to American democracy, going back to the nation’s founders. 

“Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government,” Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1787, “I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the [second option].”

When relations are running smoothly, presidents and the media recognize that they both benefit from cooperation, says journalism historian Mark Feldstein of the University of Maryland. “Presidents need the media to get their message out. The media needs the president for supplying the information that’s newsworthy.”

In some ways, the face-off between a president and the media that covers the White House isn’t new. The role of the press as a check on government power has long been central to American democracy.

“Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government,” Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1787, “I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the [second option].”

Mark Feldstein is a journalism historian at the University of Maryland. He says when relations are running smoothly, presidents and the media recognize that they both benefit from cooperation. “Presidents need the media to get their message out. The media needs the president for supplying the information that’s newsworthy.”

From the country’s beginning, however, the media and public officials have often clashed. According to Louis Liebovich, a media historian at the University of Illinois, the first U.S. newspapers were highly partisan—less interested in truthful reporting than in attacking political opponents. “Their language was stark and personal if the president was from the party opposite of the newspaper’s allegiance.” 

Even George Washington felt the sting. The hero of the American Revolution and the first U.S. president (1789-1797) was enraged by some newspapers’ accusations that he sought the power of a king. 

During the presidency of Washington’s successor, John Adams (1797-1801), clashes with the press helped lead to Congress passing the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. At the time, the nation was close to war with France. The acts, meant to keep foreign enemies out of the country, also attempted to stifle criticism of the government by limiting freedom of the press. 

The Alien and Sedition Acts didn’t last long, expiring by 1801. Still, they resulted in the arrest of dozens of newspaper publishers. And the fact that Adams backed this attack on civil liberties damaged the credibility of his presidency.

From the country’s beginning, however, the media and public officials have often clashed. Louis Liebovich is a media historian at the University of Illinois. He says the first U.S. newspapers were highly partisan. They were less interested in truthful reporting than in attacking political opponents. “Their language was stark and personal if the president was from the party opposite of the newspaper’s allegiance.”

Even George Washington felt the sting. He was the hero of the American Revolution and the first U.S. president (1789-1797). Washington was enraged by some newspapers’ accusations that he sought the power of a king.

During the presidency of Washington’s successor, John Adams (1797-1801), clashes with the press helped lead to Congress passing the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. At the time, the nation was close to war with France. The acts were meant to keep foreign enemies out of the country. They also attempted to stifle criticism of the government by limiting freedom of the press.

The Alien and Sedition Acts didn’t last long. They expired by 1801. Still, they resulted in the arrest of dozens of newspaper publishers. And the fact that Adams backed this attack on civil liberties damaged the credibility of his presidency.

Yet not every president has been at war with the press. Theodore Roo­sevelt (1901-1909), who Feldstein calls “the first media president,” often gathered his favorite reporters while he was getting a shave. “Frequently, in mid-shave, the excitable president would spring out of his armchair, lather flying off his face, to lecture the newsmen on an issue,” historian David Greenberg writes.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945) also enjoyed the give-and-take with reporters. The press mostly protected FDR’s image as a strong leader by not emphasizing how severely polio had disabled him. 

FDR, a Democrat, did have his media battles, especially with newspapers owned by conservative Republicans. At the same time, he discovered that a new technology—radio—allowed him to bypass those papers and speak directly to the people. Roosevelt’s famous “fireside chats,” addresses delivered into millions of homes, endeared him to Americans. 

Two decades later, John F. Kennedy (1961-1963) was the first president to use TV effectively to reach the public through live TV news conferences and addresses from the White House. 

Yet not every president has been at war with the press. Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) often gathered his favorite reporters while he was getting a shave. “Frequently, in mid-shave, the excitable president would spring out of his armchair, lather flying off his face, to lecture the newsmen on an issue,” historian David Greenberg writes.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945) also enjoyed the give-and-take with reporters. The press mostly protected FDR’s image as a strong leader. They didn’t emphasize how severely polio had disabled him.

As a Democrat, FDR battled with newspapers owned by conservative Republicans. At the same time, he discovered that a new technology—radio—allowed him to skip those papers and speak directly to the people. Roosevelt’s famous “fireside chats” were broadcast into millions of homes.

Two decades later, John F. Kennedy (1961-1963) was the first president to use TV effectively. He reached the public through live TV news conferences and addresses from the White House. 

By Kennedy’s time, says Liebovich, most journalists had long stopped being tied to a political party. Instead, they saw their reporting as an objective, or unbiased, search for facts. For the most part, presidents and the press worked together peacefully.

That began to change, say historians, during U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War (1954-1975). Reporters accused President Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969) of creating a “credibility gap”—in effect, lying—about U.S. successes in a conflict that divided the American people.

By Kennedy’s time, most journalists had long stopped being tied to a political party, says Liebovich. Instead, they saw their reporting as an unbiased search for facts. For the most part, presidents and the press worked together peacefully.

Historians say that began to change during U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War (1954-1975). Reporters accused President Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969) of lying about U.S. successes in the conflict.

Relations worsened under Richard Nixon (1969-1974). The Republican “harbored a deep resentment” against the media, says Feldstein. Nixon “viewed the press as the enemy and vowed revenge.”

Relations worsened under Richard Nixon (1969-1974). A Republican, he “harbored a deep resentment” against the media, which he believed had never taken him seriously, says Feldstein. He “viewed the press as the enemy and vowed revenge.” In 1971, The New York Times published the first of the Pentagon Papers, top secret documents about the origins of the Vietnam War. Furious about this information leak, Nixon escalated attacks on the press. Reporters he disliked were placed on an “enemies list.” His White House banned some reporters, wiretapped some, and planted false leaks to discredit others.

Nixon’s suspicions of the media led to his operatives breaking into and bugging the Democratic Party’s headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. The press’s investigation of the scandal—now referred to as Watergate—and Nixon’s lies about the break-in resulted in his resignation in August 1974. 

In 1971, The New York Times published the first of the Pentagon Papers. These are top secret documents about the origins of the Vietnam War. Nixon was furious about this information leak and increased attacks on the press. Reporters he disliked were placed on an “enemies list.” His White House banned some reporters, wiretapped some, and planted false leaks to discredit others.

Nixon’s suspicions of the media led to his operatives breaking into and bugging the Democratic Party’s headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. The press’s investigation of the scandal is now referred to as Watergate. Nixon’s lies about the break-in resulted in his resignation in August 1974. 

Under the next seven presidents, relations with the media were less dramatic. Though there were conflicts, a basic sense of cooperation remained—until now. In the Trump era, according to experts, the news media is facing perhaps its biggest challenge ever.

The press is used to hostility from the White House, Feldstein notes. “But this is on a whole new level,” he says, because Trump isn’t just attacking individual reporters or news outlets, but “the news media as an institution.” Meanwhile, Trump has shown that he can sidestep the mainstream media completely by using Twitter to convey his message directly to Americans. News organizations are now wondering with a new urgency whether the president and the press can work together at all.

One reason is the recent explosion of alternative media. For many years, most Americans relied on a limited number of sources for news. Today, there are an endless number of websites and cable news outlets, many with a specific political bias. Much of what they produce is not fact-checked or is simply false. With so many options to choose from, it’s easy for consumers to read only the news sources they already agree with. 

 “Alternative media outlets make the White House less reliant than ever on the smaller number of mainstream news organizations that used to be the ‘gatekeepers’ of [news],” says Feldstein. The Trump administration can rely on spreading its message via “more sympathetic outlets like Breitbart,” he says. On the internet, such outlets have a far greater reach than traditional media ever did.

Under the next seven presidents, relations with the media were less dramatic. Though there were conflicts, a basic sense of cooperation remained—until now. In the Trump era, experts say, the news media is facing perhaps its biggest challenge ever.

The press is used to hostility from the White House, Feldstein notes. “But this is on a whole new level,” he says. Trump isn’t just attacking individual reporters or news outlets. He is attacking “the news media as an institution.”

Meanwhile, Trump has shown that he can avoid the mainstream media completely. He uses Twitter to send his message directly to Americans. Some news organizations are now wondering whether the president and the press can work together at all.

One reason is the recent explosion of alternative media. For many years, most Americans relied on a limited number of sources for news. Today, there are an endless number of websites and cable news outlets. Many of them have a specific political bias. Much of what they produce is not fact-checked or is simply false. With so many options to choose from, it’s easy for consumers to read only the news sources they already agree with.

“Alternative media outlets make the White House less reliant than ever on the smaller number of mainstream news organizations that used to be the ‘gatekeepers’ of [news],” says Feldstein. The Trump administration can rely on spreading its message via “more sympathetic outlets like Breitbart,” he says. On the internet, such outlets have a far greater reach than traditional media ever did.