Influencer Press Briefing Turns Into Trump Lovefest — But Maybe That’s a Good Thing
Perhaps when the media is more honest about its bias, the American public will benefit.
The White House recently held a press conference specifically for online MAGA influencers, a move that infuriated folks on the left who had become accustomed to left-leaning media outlets dominating the press pool. But folks on the right also had criticisms of the event, with many pointing out that most of the influencers acted as Trump sycophants rather than asking substantive questions.
They were right, of course. Many of those in attendance asked White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt silly questions aimed at propping up President Donald Trump and attacking Democrats. Substance was hard to come by.
But the press conference might still be a good thing. I’ll explain why later.
One influencer asked Leavitt where she could go to find news about the positive things Trump is doing during his second term. That’s right, dear reader. A journalist asked a government official where to find information to support the government.
I don’t need to ask how this would have gone over if someone like Jim Acosta asked the same of former President Joe Biden, do I?
Podcaster Tim Pool used the event as an opportunity to attack left-wing media. “I’m wondering if you can comment on their unprofessional behavior as well as elaborate if there’s any plans to expand access to new companies?” he asked.
Link Lauren, another content creator, lavished praise on Leavitt for being a mother while working at the White House.
“You’re a very high-profile young mother who seems to juggle and balance it all beautifully. What advice do you have to young parents out there who are starting their careers having kids, building families and trying to find that balance so desperately?”
This isn’t to say there were no decent questions among the group. Some asked pointed questions about immigration and the economy. But overall, it was basically a mini Trump rally for online influencers.
This will likely be one of several press conferences the Trump administration will hold specifically for MAGA influencers who want nothing more than to sing his praises on national television. As Axios noted, “As traditional media loses influence, the White House is giving increasing access to a growing cast of Trump-friendly reporters, podcasters and influencers who boost his narratives from inside the house.”
At first glance, this might not seem like a positive trend. But perhaps it is not as bad as we think.
Yes, most of the influencers were there to plant their lips firmly on the president’s behind. But is this not what legacy media have been doing with Democratic presidents for decades? Sure, a few dared to ask tough questions. But overall, the press existed to serve as the Democrats’ propaganda apparatus.
You might recall how they tried desperately to cover up Biden’s apparent cognitive difficulties. For four years, they lied incessantly, telling us not to believe our lying eyes. Only after Trump won the election did they finally admit to deceiving the American public.
If this practice continues under future presidents, it seems likely a Democrat chief executive would do the same — invite left-leaning online personalities to come and sprinkle flower petals on the administration.
There is absolutely no way the public – at least those who pay attention – won’t know what’s going on.
See, legacy media still operates under the illusion that they are objective actors, calling balls and strikes. This has always been a lie — but it was a lie that worked. Many still believe outlets like CNN, The New York Times, ABC News, and others are balanced. They keep up the veneer of objectivity while online influencers wear their biases on their sleeves.
As this practice becomes more commonplace, the public will understand that they are not hearing from objective actors but media influencers who have a political agenda. I’m hoping this means they will automatically know to take what is being said with an entire vat of salt.
Perhaps this could spark others to dig deeper into news stories now that they know they cannot rely on press conferences to understand what is going on. If anything, this could further diminish what little faith the public has in the media and the government it serves.
Maybe I’m being overly optimistic. But I’m hoping that if this becomes a trend, it will motivate more people to determine what is happening in the world instead of relying on the government and its opinion molders. Perhaps they might start doing a bit more research to find the truth. This would be a welcome — and much-needed — outcome.