Donald Trump has endorsed Fox News from the Oval Office, which means that for the first time in history a member of the US press is now perceived as state-run media.
Trump tweeted his endorsement of Fox News over other networks:
Congratulations to @FoxNews for being number one in inauguration ratings. They were many times higher than FAKE NEWS @CNN – public is smart!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2017
It may come as a surprise to some, but there are some good professionals working at Fox News, but how can these people ever be taken seriously when the President Of The United States has deemed their employer his pet media outlet?
As Gabriel Sherman of New York Magazine correctly pointed out:
Trump’s public endorsement of Fox News over cable news rivals is something I’ve never seen before. He’s acknowledging Fox is now state TV.
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) January 25, 2017
Never before has a President Of The United States endorsed a media outlet while condemning another. It is not the job of the President to tell the American people where to get their news. Fox News was always the conservative news network, but thanks to Trump’s endorsement, they should now be formally viewed as the administration’s propaganda outlet.
Trump isn’t interested in the free press and objective media. The President wants fawning and flattering coverage, which Fox News provides more times than not.
The illusion that Fox News was fair and balanced has been blown to bits, as under Trump, Fox News is Trump cheerleading TV.