Donald Trump and the remaking of America’s media order

Imagine a president who starts his campaign by attacking the media, calling them “fake news” and accusing them of being part of the problem. Then, over the years, the very media structure he criticized so much takes on his shape, starts speaking his language, and, in some cases, even plays by his rules. This is what happened with Donald Trump in the United States: he didn't just clash with the media; he actually changed it. We are used to thinking that great leaders are pressured by journalists, that the power of the news is a thorn in the side of politicians. But with Trump, the opposite happened: the American media did not withstand the onslaught; they were reshaped. The American media establishment, which for decades had been an outside referee, has become a player in the game. Trump is no longer just a subject of the news: he has become the filter through which the entire political landscape is interpreted. Take CNN and Fox News: while one has morphed into an anti-Trump war machine, the other has become a mouthpiece for his positions. The result? The public chooses its own universe, and the truth becomes fragmented. One striking figure: during the Trump presidency, trust in the media in the United States fell below 40%, the lowest level ever recorded by Gallup. But history isn't just about numbers: consider Jim Acosta, the CNN reporter who had his White House pass revoked after an argument at a press conference. This had never happened before. Or think of the evening talk shows, which have become a sort of permanent tribunal for every word Trump utters. Some journalists have reported receiving personal threats after being mentioned in one of the president's tweets. Yet, in the midst of the chaos, Trump has given the media a new role: no longer just to inform, but to take sides, to defend or attack, to be an active participant in the conflict. The twist? Instead of strengthening investigative journalism, this polarization has made the system more fragile, more dependent on emotions and clicks, and less capable of building a shared reality. If you want to see the Trump effect, look at the public debate: today, in the United States, the question is not “What happened?” but “Which side are you on?” Now, try to turn the question around: If another leader with radical ideas were to enter the scene tomorrow, would the American media be able to stand their ground, or has the door already been breached? The American media landscape is no longer a referee: it has become a battlefield. If this story resonates with you, on Lara Notes you can press I'm In — it's not a like; it's your way of saying: This idea is now mine. And when you happen to discuss it with someone, on Lara Notes you can mark the conversation with Shared Offline — because certain conversations are worth remembering. This Note comes from the Financial Times and has saved you several minutes of subscription fees and login attempts.