FROM THE OUTSIDE | Trump and the Press

Fourteen years ago today, a stoic-faced Donald Trump sat quietly as then-President Barack Obama mocked his attempts to prove that the popular Democratic leader had been improperly elected due to being born outside the United States.

During the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the egocentric businessman—then widely known for his participation in the TV show “The Apprentice”—had to endure the figurative beating delivered by Obama, who was born in Hawaii to a Kenyan father and an American mother.

After all, Trump himself offered a reward of up to five million dollars to anyone who could prove that Obama, the first Black president in U.S. history, was born on American soil.

Obama eventually presented the necessary documents, but Trump never fully accepted them. Even in 2017, he continued to claim that the issue had been resolved thanks to his efforts.

In 2011, Obama dedicated a significant portion of his speech to journalists to ironically address Trump. It is now believed that this was the moment when Trump seriously decided to launch his political career and seek revenge—not only against politicians but also against the journalists who, by inviting him to a traditional celebration, had placed him in a position of public ridicule.

Whether true or not, Trump has not attended such a dinner again—an event where presidents typically showcased their sense of humor. Only President Ronald Reagan missed one occasion, and that was while recovering from an assassination attempt on March 30, 1981.

Moreover, 14 years later, Trump is now amid a very public campaign that capitalizes on changes in the media landscape. It promotes the displacement of traditional media while boosting the profile and influence of alternative outlets, particularly right-wing “influencers” who use social media as their primary platform.

In practical terms, this also signifies the strained relationship between Trump—accused of having authoritarian ambitions—and the press, which has traditionally acted as the “fourth estate” of the political and social system, frequently challenging him on exaggerations, false information, and contradictory statements.

For now, there is growing concern regarding the state of the media under the Trump administration, which has not hesitated to file multi-million-dollar lawsuits against media companies: a $20 billion lawsuit against CBS’s “60 Minutes” program resulted in the forced resignation of its chief producer; a lawsuit against ABC led to a $20 million settlement paid by Disney, its parent company; and the Associated Press was sidelined at the White House for refusing to use the term “Gulf of America” instead of the historic “Gulf of Mexico.”

Just a week ago, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued a travel warning specifically aimed at reporters traveling to the United States, emphasizing the risk of facing restrictions, additional interrogations, or even being denied entry into the country.

Shortly thereafter, the Department of Justice announced it would eliminate a legal exception that had previously shielded journalists from being compelled by law enforcement investigators to reveal their sources.