Donald Trump’s presidential campaign recently filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) against The Washington Post, alleging that the newspaper made “illegal in-kind contributions” to Kamala Harris’s campaign by promoting stories critical of Trump on social media.
This complaint, based on a report from Semafor, claims that the Post spent funds to amplify articles portraying Trump negatively. This legal action is one of several recent moves by Trump’s team targeting media outlets they view as biased in political reporting.
In addition to the complaint against The Washington Post, Trump’s campaign filed a $10 billion lawsuit against CBS, accusing the network of “election interference” for favorably editing a 60 Minutes interview with Harris. Trump’s legal team claims CBS altered the interview to cast Harris in a positive light, potentially swaying public opinion.
Trump had previously criticized CBS, even suggesting that its broadcast license be revoked due to what he perceives as unfair editing practices. Tensions between Trump and CBS increased after he declined his own 60 Minutes interview and raised complaints about an ABC debate with Harris, where he felt the treatment was unfair.
Donald Trump
The timing of the FEC complaint is notable, as The Washington Post recently decided not to endorse any presidential candidate, including Kamala Harris, despite an initial plan to do so. This choice was reportedly influenced by Jeff Bezos, the paper’s owner, who allegedly directed the editorial board to avoid endorsements.
This decision is said to have cost the publication over 250,000 subscribers, yet it has not mitigated Trump’s criticism. Trump’s complaints reflect his ongoing skepticism of mainstream media and belief that it is biased against his campaign.
With the election just days away, Trump’s legal actions against these media organizations appear calculated to pressure them into more favorable coverage. Besides the lawsuits, Trump has reportedly reached out to Rupert Murdoch, the owner of Fox News, asking him to suppress negative ads targeting his campaign.
This approach, coupled with threats to revoke broadcasting licenses, suggests that Trump is aiming to influence the tone of media coverage as Election Day nears, potentially swaying public perception at a critical moment.
At a recent rally in Pennsylvania, Trump openly touted his success in reducing public trust in the media. His remarks suggest a broader strategy to cast doubt on the credibility of the news, aiming to ensure that critical stories are disregarded by his supporters.
This effort to undermine trust in the media could also serve as a way to question election results should they be unfavorable to him, fostering doubt and chaos around the electoral outcome. This strategy reflects Trump’s attempt to shift public perception of the media and preemptively discredit any unfavorable election results.
