Republicans for Trump believe that scientists, historians, scholars, economists and journalists have devoted their entire careers to deceive them, while a TV clown with decades of fraud and well-documented lying is their only beacon of honesty. President Donald Trump’s sycophants blame Democrats and the mainstream media for everything that continues to make their life an endlessly miserable experience.
A new book by Brian Stelter titled “Hoax” describes the Trump-Fox feedback loop. He writes about how comments from Fox hosts are picked up and used by Trump in his rambling tweets and briefings. The claims of COVID-19 “being like the flu” and that “it would disappear with warmer weather” came from Fox hosts. Mr. Stelter writes that Trump was lulled into complacency by Fox’s downplaying of the disease resulting in weeks of delay. Trump ignored Dr. Anthony Fauci and the CDC’s science backed recommendations for far-right fringe lunatic theories. Trump’s actions and inactions are dictated by Fox. Trump latches on to impossible and even illegal policy ideas.
White House aides try to get certain people booked on certain shows with the knowledge that Trump can be easily manipulated by what he sees on TV. Sean Hannity was responsible for getting longtime Fox News commentator John Bolton hired as national security adviser. Trump granted pardons because of Fox. He raged against migrant “caravans” because of Fox. He accused public servants of treason because of Fox, and he got the facts wrong again and again because of mistakes and misreporting by the network. People have said there was so much divisiveness during Obama’s terms. I think it’s clear where it came from.
Mr. Stelter writes that in private conversations, Hannity has described Trump as “batshirt crazy.” This is the Fox News presidency in action.
Dale Laursen, Brigham City