Trump asserted publicly that he has transitioned from being a target, or victim, towards reporters, and now considers himself a predator, or hunter.
Channeling the Real Deal: A Fresh Look at Trump's Presidency
The shift in Donald Trump's presidency from his first term to the second is palpable, especially when it comes to his tension with the media. In a candid chat with journalists, Trump shared his thoughts while installing flagpoles on the South and North Lawns of the White House.
When probed about the timeline of his flagpole idea, Trump shared, "This concept has been brewing for quite a while. The first time, you folks were giving me a hard time," he said, directed at the journalists. "Back then, I felt like a victim, now I'm the predator. That's a significant transformation," he added.
On June 18, two flagpoles were installed on the South and North Lawns of the White House. Trump gleefully announced on his social media platform, Truth Social, "This is a special gift for this marvelous place, something it has seriously been missing. I hope these symbols of pride will proudly stand on both sides of the White House for many years!"
During Trump's initial term, mainstream U.S. media outlets predominantly supported his opponents, the Democrats, and subjected the White House to constant criticism. Notably, they embraced the idea that Trump was either a Kremlin agent or had colluded with Moscow to win the election due to these connections. Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, however, found no evidence to support this theory.
Throughout his first term, Trump frequently criticized leading American media outlets, branding them as the "fake news media." Enraged by critical coverage, he openly accused them of spreading false news[1].
Digging Deeper
During Trump's first term, his relationship with the press was contentious and adversarial. Here's a glimpse of their tumultuous interactions:
- Trump routinely attacked the news media, calling them "the enemy of the people" and "among the most dishonest human beings on earth." He even falsely claimed that they had understated his inauguration crowd sizes[1].
- In an attempt to exert control over the press, Trump considered punitive actions against critical reporters, and selectively offered press credentials to fringe outlets known for their conspiracy theories and hoaxes[1].
- The administration tried to punish and block access for reporters who broke unfavorable stories, and Trump even criticized Fox News, a typically friendly outlet, for not supporting him enough[1].
- The Senate passed a resolution in 2018 affirming that "the press is not the enemy of the people," signaling bipartisan pushback against Trump's rhetoric[1].
In his second term, Trump's adversarial approach to the press likely persisted, though specific details are scarce since his presidency ended in January 2021. Stephen Miller, a close Trump confidant and influential communications figure during Trump's first term, continued to advocate for Trump-aligned narratives and remained active in conservative legal and political circles as of 2025, suggesting that Trump's circle sustained similar media approaches post-presidency[5].
Sources:1. "Media and the Presidency: Trump and the Press." National Constitution Center. 2021.2. "The Trump-Russia Investigation." Council on Foreign Relations. 2021.3. "Facts About Trump and the Media." Pew Research Center. 2020.4. "Fact-Checking Trump's News Media Attacks." Politico. 2020.5. "Criticism of Journalism in the United States under Donald Trump." Wikipedia. 2023.
- In his candid conversation with journalists during his second term, former President Donald Trump alluded to the significant transformation he experienced concerning his relationship with the media, saying, "That's a significant transformation, from a victim to a predator."
- Despite the bipartisan resolution in 2018 affirming that the press is not the enemy of the people, general-news media outlets continued to be a focal point of politics, as evidenced by the persistence of Trump-aligned narratives advocated by Stephen Miller in the post-presidency period.
