The same week that the Democratic National Convention (DNC) was being televised across major networks, Republicans sought to counter the Democrats’ message with competing programming.
As the Republican party’s nominee, Donald Trump embarked on a series of visits to battleground states. There, he consistently attacked Democratic figures like Kamala Harris, often timing his critiques to coincide with their scheduled speeches at the DNC.
Over the past several weeks, his every controversial statement and action has continued to make headlines.
However, in a surprising turn, two media outlets known for their strong support of the MAGA agenda—Fox News and Newsmax—abruptly cut away from Trump’s speech in Howell, Michigan on Tuesday.
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The topic of the speech was law and order, a frequent talking point for Republicans, particularly one that Trump usually approaches with vigor. Yet, both networks reportedly stopped their coverage midway through.
Fox News cut away after Trump began attacking U.S. law enforcement officials for targeting him over his criminal charges, and Newsmax pulled back when he delved into his legal troubles in New York, where he awaits sentencing.
FOXNEWS:
Fox News cuts away from Trump’s incoherent low energy speech in Michigan right after he pushes the big lie — and Martha MacCallum immediately starts trying to sane-wash it pic.twitter.com/Oeh2rwBIvC
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 20, 2024
NEWMAX:
Newsmax cuts away from Trump’s low energy speech in Michigan pic.twitter.com/vgRprqRTB5
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 20, 2024
In a notable contrast, these same networks continued to air clips showcasing Democrats’ “soft-on-crime” policies, another common talking point in conservative media. Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, attempted to spin the situation in a way that painted the candidate in a positive light for his supporters.
They took most of the speech, which is more than the boring and inconsequential events that Kamala holds that do not get any attention.
The media’s sudden decision to cut away from Trump’s speech could be linked to his slipping poll numbers and a growing sense that he is failing to stay on message. Many of his recent speeches have been marked by frequent deviations from prepared remarks, with him rambling about personal grievances or unrelated topics.
On Tuesday, Trump seemed to shift slightly, at times reading from a teleprompter, but his delivery was notably low-energy and lacked the typical enthusiasm that characterizes his rallies.
This diminished vigor, combined with the media’s response, suggests that Trump is struggling to recapture the momentum he once enjoyed with both his base and his media allies.
Featured Image via Political Tribune Gallery
