Covering Trump at home and abroad
While the New York Times
(NYT), CNN and other left-leaning
“news” sources continue to grovel in mire largely of their own makings,
President Trump is making his first trip abroad in perhaps his boldest move to date as president.
If you're confused about President
Trump and all the anonymous allegations spewing out of “news” sources, you've likely been reading and watching too much news. As Mark Twain aka Samuel Clemens is alleged to have said, “If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.”
Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy clarified a lot of confusion created mostly by Washington and national media's compulsion to paint President Trump in a negative light 24/7. Their study “News Coverage of Donald Trump's First 100 Days” showed just how negative media coverage has been. Percentage of news reports with negative/positive tones during the first 100 days: CNN 93/7; NBC 93/7; CBS 91/9; NYT 87/13; Washington Post 83/17; Wall Street Journal 70/30; and FOX 52/48.
President Trump's trip over the next few days is bold, historic, and ambitious. His first stop was in Riyadh where he delivered a powerful speech to dozens of Arab and Muslim leaders offering to partner with them “to conquer extremism and vanquish the forces of terrorism.”
President Trump said, “We are not here to lecture—we are not here to tell other people how to live, what to do, who to be, or how to worship. Instead, we are here to offer partnership – based on shared interests and values – to pursue a better future for us all.”
Regarding partnership, he said, “Our friends will never question our support, and our enemies will never doubt our determination. Our partnerships will advance security through stability, not through radical disruption. We will make decisions based on real-world outcomes – not inflexible ideology. We will be guided by the lessons of experience, not the confines of rigid thinking. And, wherever possible, we will seek gradual reforms – not sudden intervention. We must seek partners, not perfection—and to make allies of all who share our goals. Above all, America seeks peace – not war.”
President Trump closed with: “I ask you to join me, to join together, to work together, and to FIGHT together— BECAUSE UNITED, WE WILL NOT FAIL. Thank you. God Bless You. God Bless Your Countries. And God Bless the United States of America.”
As I write this on Sunday, “mixed reviews” about Trump's speech are dribbling out. Expect the usual negative tones from left-leaning media. Search for comments from Saudi, Arab, and Muslim leaders. I expect them to be positive.
Trump-led American delegation will make eight more stops this week to meet with leaders in the Middle East, Europe and trading partners: Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Bethlehem; Rome, the Vatican, and Brussels; Sicily and Sigonella naval air station.
While the president is away, I hope Republicans in Washington will realize they have an opportunity to regenerate our economy through tax reform and deregulation. It's also time to renovate health insurance and health care for all Americans. Now is not the time for rigid ideology or for following the self-serving establishment, but for returning to America's free-market system and good jobs for anyone who's willing to work.