Media Criticized for ‘Outrageous’ Coverage of Biden and Trump Campaigns

The media’s influence on public opinion, image building, and awareness is particularly strong in the political field. To gain credibility and trust from voters, positive media coverage is essential. However, the media’s coverage of Donald Trump and Joe Biden amid their election campaigns has drawn increasing criticism.

Social media users are currently condemning what they perceive as ‘outrageous’ coverage of Biden and Trump’s campaigns. One social media user wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “I count eight stories on the Biden age controversy in the New York Times hard copy this morning and nothing on Trump‘s rally last night, where he said many deranged things.

And I saw nothing prominently displayed on that rally in the paper’s online version.” Another user reshared this post, stating, “You can think the Biden story deserves coverage AND actually cover the dangerous insanity coming from Donald Trump. It really is outrageous how the Times and other outlets are covering this race. Worse than 2016.” A third user added, “I thought the free press was supposed to help protect democracy and not actively try to destroy it?”

Another person commented, “EXACTLY! I’ve been screaming about this since the bad debate! Not only has the media learned NOTHING since 2016 – they are WORSE! It is SICKENING how they have treated @POTUS! SICKENING!” Another user agreed, saying, “It’s worse than 2016 by orders of magnitude. They’re basically refusing to cover Trump at all. It’s nothing but 10+ stories a day on Biden’s age.

I’m not even sure how that’s possible.” A fifth person chimed in, “Complete failure of the 4th estate. We’re well into the ‘How to become a fascist dictator’ playbook.” Another user suggested, “Maybe we should stop rewarding [them] by breathlessly covering & sharing their breathless coverage. It only drives more traffic to them. It only amplifies their concerted and slanted messaging.

Stop. It.” Currently, anyone keeping up with mainstream media can’t escape the latest polls probing whether Biden should bow out, sparked by his lackluster performance in the presidential debate. Yet, there’s a growing group questioning why Trump’s apparent cognitive decline and startling proposals aren’t receiving similar scrutiny, according to The Guardian.

Biden’s supporters criticize media outlets for having a double standard in their coverage of him versus his opponent. Historian Heather Cox Richardson also noted a lack of media focus on Trump recently. As reported by The Conversation, she pointed out, “Although Trump has frequently slurred his words or trailed off while speaking and repeatedly fell asleep at his own criminal trial, none of the pieces mentioned Trump’s mental fitness.” The depth of coverage on Biden has also sparked speculation about whether the news media is on a mission to derail his campaign.