Staff Reports
The White House press corps seems to be in a state of despair as they grapple with the return of Donald Trump, whose recent election has thrown their world into chaos. After a four-year vacation filled with softballs and high-fives directed at the Biden administration, they now face a new reality that requires actual reporting. What a shocker! Instead of continuing their relentless drumbeat against conservatives and gleefully covering the progressive agenda, they now find themselves struggling to adapt to the high-octane news cycle that Trump inevitably brings.
The media, spoiled by a cushy gig under a less demanding president, is already whining about the arduous task ahead of them. According to sources within the press corps, they are expressing exhaustion even before Trump has officially taken office. It’s as if they’ve forgotten that journalism is meant to be an energetic profession rather than a cushy seat at the proverbial high table. As if to reinforce this sentiment, one veteran journalist from a prominent newspaper compared their upcoming challenges to a punishing regime, likening the task to an all-consuming treadmill of news and controversy that will have them yearning for the days of sleepy press briefings.
Amidst the murmurings of dissatisfaction, correspondents bemoan the fact that Trump’s constant social media presence means there will be no shortage of material to cover. They’ve even hinted at taking a more restrained approach to Trump’s tweets and posts this time around—a claim that would be more believable if it weren’t reminiscent of their previous insistence that his every word must be scrutinized and sensationalized. If they really wish to step back, they would do well to remember the number of times they themselves could hardly resist running to the presses over the president’s tweets, insisting that they were vitally important to the public discourse.
The shift in tone from the press corps today starkly contrasts with their fervor after Trump’s first election. Back in 2016, they were practically hopping with excitement, brandishing notepads like weapons, eager to take him down at every opportunity. Newsrooms bustled with energy as every outlandish comment from Trump inspired them to craft their ultimate takedown pieces. Fast forward to now, and these same journalists appear nearly defeated before they’ve even begun. They seem to be grappling with the realization that despite their best efforts, they failed to keep Trump from reclaiming the presidency, leaving them with little to show for their incessant barrage against him and everything he represents.
White House Press Corps Is Already Defeated and 'Exhausted' by Having to Cover a Trump Presidencyhttps://t.co/YTvUybsiAr
— RedState (@RedState) December 2, 2024
It’s likely that this morose atmosphere stems from a painful understanding of their limitations. After years of crafting narratives filled with Russian collusion and existential threats to democracy, the grassroots appeal of Trump remains unapologetically strong, and they’re left facing the cold reality that their methods have not resonated with a large segment of American voters. Publishers are growing weary of journalistic crusades that deliver more outrage than substance; they demand results, leaving reporters like Peter Baker with little choice but to buckle down and grind through the arduous task of actual reporting—a concept that appears to have slipped from their collective memory.
In an ever-changing media landscape, the idea of being an unbiased truth-teller seems to be a fleeting notion, especially when confronted with the likes of Donald Trump. As reporters gear up for another tumultuous term of the Trump presidency, they will be forced to acknowledge that the playground mentality they once enjoyed—as they stormed the gates of the White House—will need to be put away in favor of a healthy dose of hard news and critical thinking. Who knows, they may just come to find that journalism is not only work but can also be quite rewarding when abandoning the bias of the past. But given their current outlook, the White House press corps better brace itself; the Trump train is making a comeback, and they will have no choice but to stay on track.
