Media Manipulation: Developing a Press Strategy to Counter Trump’s Spectacle

Democracy in Peril: Trump’s Authoritarian Transformation of America

In a stark escalation of authoritarian rhetoric, former President Donald Trump recently declared, “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law,” echoing language used by Napoleon Bonaparte and signaling his belief that presidential power should transcend legal constraints. This statement follows a disturbing pattern of autocratic behavior that has intensified since Trump’s return to political prominence.

The former president’s claim that he and his attorney general should have the final say about law in the United States directly contradicts the Constitution’s separation of powers, which explicitly grants the judicial branch final interpretative authority. Trump further alarmed constitutional scholars by posting an image of himself on Truth Social depicted as royalty with the caption “LONG LIVE THE KING!” – imagery his team subsequently amplified across multiple social media platforms.

“Trump understands media logic and the premises of entertainment,” explains David Altheide, Regents’ Professor Emeritus at Arizona State University and author of “Gonzo Governance: The Media Logic of Donald Trump.” According to Altheide, Trump deliberately “floods the zone” with provocative statements and actions, overwhelming traditional media’s capacity to respond effectively.

This strategy manifests in the administration’s theatrical approach to immigration enforcement. Homeland Security officials have staged media-friendly raids featuring celebrities like Dr. Phil accompanying ICE agents. These spectacles transform serious policy implementation into entertainment, trivializing the human impact of mass deportations.

“When media carry this real oppression and suffering as programming, it trivializes the social harm and human suffering,” Altheide notes. “Responsible media coverage of these encounters must go beyond a Dr. Phil quip.”

The theatrical enforcement actions reflect Trump’s broader approach to governance, which Altheide characterizes as fundamentally destructive rather than constructive. “The ongoing saga of President Trump’s national takeover is a replay of an old show, ‘The Apprentice,'” he says. “His presidential spinoff is not building up anything or creating new approaches but is about firing things — people, programs, policies, and institutions.”

This demolition of governmental institutions has been embraced by a Republican-controlled Congress that appears increasingly unwilling to exercise oversight. What makes this particularly effective is Trump’s skillful crafting of a compelling narrative for his base – positioning himself as a righteous billionaire battling “deep-state conspirators.”

“It is a classic story of good and evil,” Altheide explains. “The story goes that the United States used to be good, but then evil liberals took over and created organizations, agencies, and policies run by deep-state conspirators.” This narrative, often infused with religious overtones, provides moral justification for dismantling government agencies and programs promoting civil rights, scientific research, and social welfare.

The rapid pace of these changes has created widespread disorientation among the public. Trump’s constant barrage of controversial statements and policy shifts makes it difficult for citizens and journalists alike to maintain perspective on the cumulative impact of his actions.

Media organizations bear significant responsibility for this confusion. By treating each controversial statement as an isolated incident rather than part of a coherent strategy, news outlets fail to provide audiences with the context needed to understand broader patterns. Journalists generally remain constrained by traditional formats that emphasize brevity and conflict rather than comprehensive analysis.

“The opposition to the fascist takeover must set the agenda, the frame, the discourse,” Altheide argues. “This starts by calling out what is going on by using the historically correct term — fascism.” He urges journalists to abandon false equivalence that treats attacks on democratic institutions as simply one legitimate viewpoint among many.

The stakes could not be higher. Trump’s embrace of authoritarian language and governing style, combined with his administration’s systematic dismantling of democratic guardrails, represents an existential threat to American constitutional governance. His alignment with authoritarian leaders abroad further endangers U.S. security and global standing.

“Our nation’s survival depends on countering Trump’s entertaining politics of fear,” Altheide warns. Without a coordinated response from democratic institutions and a press willing to abandon both-sides framing, the country risks continued slide toward autocracy – precisely the scenario cultural critic Neil Postman warned about forty years ago when he described Americans as “amusing themselves to death.”