Staff Reports
President-elect Donald Trump is gearing up for his second term with a plan that could make any journalist’s blood run cold. With a new lease on life after scoring the popular vote and largely shuffling his legal baggage aside, Trump has set his sights on taking on the press. This time, he’s not just talking tough; he’s looking to utilize the court system and, of course, some taxpayer-funded prosecutors to do his bidding.
Fresh off a victory that left no doubt in heartland voters’ minds—evidenced by his sweeping win in Iowa—Trump is now channeling his inner litigator. Following a recent settlement where ABC News agreed to cough up $15 million to Trump’s presidential library and another $1 million for legal fees (thanks to their insufferable host George Stephanopoulos), Trump has found a newfound confidence to take on other media outlets. Next on his list? The Des Moines Register and pollster Ann Selzer. Their pre-election poll, which suggested Vice President Kamala Harris was leading Trump in Iowa, seemingly struck a nerve, prompting Trump to file a lawsuit over what he termed “brazen election interference.”
"It should have been Justice Department or somebody else."
Trump talks about suing news outlets who disagree with him and says the Department of Justice should go after media outlets and members who cover him poorly. pic.twitter.com/j7fUghB2BM
— American Bridge 21st Century (@American_Bridge) December 16, 2024
Trump’s latest antics led him to share his desire for the Justice Department to act as his personal legal army, saying the responsibility to pursue media lawsuits shouldn’t rest on his shoulders alone. Somehow, it seems some might argue that the press is less a watchdog for democracy and more a rabid dog in need of a leash. Trump expressed that “the press is very corrupt,” perhaps a refreshing dose of honesty for those who’ve long suspected that journalism should come with a caution label.
While some might recall the days when Trump was just a lovable reality TV star, the transformation to a full-fledged political lightning rod has led him to call out vicious attacks from traditional media. His rally crowds still cheer when he derides those “fake news” outlets that pounce on his every move. Alongside his ongoing lawsuits against various media figures and institutions, Trump is positioning himself as the ultimate nemesis to anyone who dares to paint him in an unflattering light—a role he appears to relish more than learning how to bake sourdough bread during a pandemic.
Democrats are seemingly quaking in their boots at this possibility of a Justice Department reshuffle utilized for personal vendettas. With Trump’s nomination of Kash Patel as the new FBI director, and Patel’s stern warnings about seeking out “conspirators,” the left is concerned they may be the next targets. For them, the idea of a president using federal resources to settle personal scores might spell disaster for their agenda.
While some legal experts shake their heads at the idea of lawsuits based on consumer fraud laws—arguing they’re far from bulletproof—the chilling effect on media outlets could be significant. If Trump manages to make the cost of reporting negative stories sky-high, the press might just rethink what it publishes. As one legal observer astutely noted, Trump doesn’t need to win every battle in court; he just needs to create a battlefield so daunting that he effectively silences critics through financial strain. In Trump’s own paradigm, media accountability looks less like noble pursuit of truth and more like a financial war on dissenting voices.
For now, it seems the press might want to prepare for what could be a rollercoaster ride of legal challenges and perceived threats, and perhaps sharpen their pencils for a whole new series of headline-making incidents at the hands of the reigning heavyweight champion of combative politics. The press may be in for accountability like never before, and as Trump prepares to take the reins once more, he reminds everyone that he’s still got plenty of fight left.
