For instance, last week, Trump posted the following to his Truth Social account:
I have reached an agreement with the Radical Left Democrats for a Debate with Comrade Kamala Harris. It will be Broadcast Live on ABC FAKE NEWS, by far the nastiest and most unfair newscaster in the business, on Tuesday, September 10th, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Rules will be the same as the last CNN Debate, which seemed to work out well for everyone except, perhaps, Crooked Joe Biden. The Debate will be “stand up,” and Candidates cannot bring notes, or “cheat sheets.” We have also been given assurance by ABC that this will be a “fair and equitable” Debate, and that neither side will be given the questions in advance (No Donna Brazile!). Harris would not agree to the FoxNews Debate on September 4th, but that date will be held open in case she changes her mind or, Flip Flops, as she has done on every single one of her long held and cherished policy beliefs. A possible third Debate, which would go to NBC FAKE NEWS, has not been agreed to by the Radical Left. GOD BLESS AMERICA!
CNN described that rambling, insult-laden, conspiracy-riddled wall of text—itself a pretty good example of what he spends his time off the campaign trail doing—by writing, “Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced he has ‘reached an agreement’ to participate in a September 10 debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, noting that ‘the rules will be the same as the last CNN debate, which seemed to work out well for everyone.’”
Does that really capture what Trump posted?
[The article provides more exampmes like that.]
This “sanewashing” of Trump’s statements isn’t just poor journalism; it’s a form of misinformation that poses a threat to democracy. By continually reframing Trump’s incoherent and often dangerous rhetoric as conventional political discourse, major news outlets are failing in their duty to inform the public and are instead providing cover for increasingly erratic behavior from a former—and potentially future—president.
The consequences of this journalistic malpractice extend far beyond misleading headlines. By laundering Trump’s words in this fashion, the media is actively participating in the erosion of our shared reality. When major news outlets consistently present a polished version of Trump’s statements, they create an alternate narrative that exists alongside the unfiltered truth available on social media and in unedited footage.
Voters who rely solely on traditional news sources are presented with a version of Trump that bears little resemblance to reality. They see a former president who, while controversial, appears to operate within the bounds of normal political discourse—or at worst, is breaking with it in some kind of refreshing manner […]
Inspirational demo provided by claude ai NOT A REAL REPORT
While mildly entertaining i doubt if anyone would really read such in full as a real article.
Editorial Report: Trump’s Debate Announcement Raises Eyebrows
Former President Donald Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to announce an upcoming debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. The announcement, however, was far from a straightforward press release, instead serving as a microcosm of Trump’s combative political style and ongoing feuds with the media and his political opponents.
Debate Details Amid Political Jabs
Trump claims to have reached an agreement for a debate with Harris, scheduled for September 10th in Philadelphia, to be broadcast on ABC. However, the former president couldn’t resist taking a swipe at the network, labeling it “ABC FAKE NEWS” and describing it as “the nastiest and most unfair newscaster in the business.” This continued antagonism towards mainstream media outlets has been a hallmark of Trump’s political career and appears unabated.
The debate rules, according to Trump, will mirror those of a previous CNN debate. In what seems to be a dig at President Biden, Trump suggests these rules “seemed to work out well for everyone except, perhaps, Crooked Joe Biden.” The use of the pejorative nickname “Crooked” for Biden indicates that Trump is maintaining his strategy of assigning unflattering monikers to his political rivals.
Format and Fairness Concerns
Trump emphasizes that the debate will be “stand up,” with candidates prohibited from using notes or “cheat sheets.” This framing implies a preference for spontaneity and perhaps a criticism of prepared remarks. He also claims to have received assurances from ABC about the debate’s fairness, specifically mentioning that neither side will receive questions in advance. The parenthetical “(No Donna Brazile!)” likely refers to the 2016 controversy where Brazile, then a CNN contributor, was accused of providing debate questions to Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
Jabs at Harris and Negotiations in Progress
In a particularly pointed comment, Trump alleges that Harris declined a September 4th debate on Fox News. He frames this as potential indecisiveness, stating the date remains open in case Harris “changes her mind or, Flip Flops, as she has done on every single one of her long held and cherished policy beliefs.” This accusation of inconsistency is a common political attack, though the sweeping nature of Trump’s claim is characteristically hyperbolic.
Trump also mentions the possibility of a third debate on NBC, again using the term “FAKE NEWS” to describe the network. He states that this potential debate “has not been agreed to by the Radical Left,” a term he repeatedly uses to refer to his Democratic opponents.
Analysis
Trump’s announcement, while ostensibly about a debate agreement, serves multiple purposes. It’s a platform for him to:
The confrontational tone and use of nicknames and labels (“Comrade Kamala Harris,” “Crooked Joe Biden,” “Radical Left”) are consistent with Trump’s communication style throughout his political career. This approach continues to energize his base while potentially alienating moderate voters.
It’s worth noting that as of our last update, there has been no confirmation from Harris’s team or the Democratic Party about this debate. Given the unorthodox nature of the announcement and Trump’s history of making unverified claims, it would be prudent to seek corroboration from other sources before considering this debate as confirmed.
The announcement concludes with an all-caps “GOD BLESS AMERICA!” – a patriotic flourish that has become a standard sign-off in Trump’s communications, possibly aimed at reinforcing his image as a patriotic figure.
As the 2024 election cycle heats up, this announcement, regardless of its accuracy, signals that Trump intends to maintain the confrontational and unorthodox communication style that defined his previous campaigns and presidency.