President Donald Trump just took an axe to one of his obsessions with his attempt to fight back against media coverage that he doesn't like. Last Friday, Trump revoked the press credentials of CNN, MS NOW and Politico, citing negative news coverage of his economy and the war in Iran. The fallout of that move continued to ripple on Monday, as the major news networks banded together and refused to send pool reporters to the White House. The result was an embarrassing incident during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the White House, where cameras could not hear the president speaking because of the noise. David Rothkopf, a former international trade staffer in the Clinton administration, argued during a new episode of "The Daily Beast Podcast" that the move is sure to backfire, and it may even make Trump question whether he exists. “I think if Trump stopped being covered — if this media blackout, this boycott kicked in—he would start wondering about his own existence,” Rothkopf said. “I think he doesn’t believe he exists unless he reads or sees about himself on TV.”“He wants to be the center of attention. All he wants in life is to be on TV. It’s his obsession,” Rothkopf continued. “How long before Trump folds on all of this? Because [the networks] didn’t say they’re not providing coverage today; they said they’re not providing coverage indefinitely, and there is no plan for replacement coverage.”
Donald Trump looks on during a Hanukkah reception at the White House. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
President Donald Trump just took an axe to one of his obsessions with his attempt to fight back against media coverage that he doesn't like.
Last Friday, Trump revoked the press credentials of CNN, MS NOW and Politico, citing negative news coverage of his economy and the war in Iran. The fallout of that move continued to ripple on Monday, as the major news networks banded together and refused to send pool reporters to the White House. The result was an embarrassing incident during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the White House, where cameras could not hear the president speaking because of the noise.
David Rothkopf, a former international trade staffer in the Clinton administration, argued during a new episode of "The Daily Beast Podcast" that the move is sure to backfire, and it may even make Trump question whether he exists.
“I think if Trump stopped being covered — if this media blackout, this boycott kicked in—he would start wondering about his own existence,” Rothkopf said. “I think he doesn’t believe he exists unless he reads or sees about himself on TV.”
“He wants to be the center of attention. All he wants in life is to be on TV. It’s his obsession,” Rothkopf continued. “How long before Trump folds on all of this? Because [the networks] didn’t say they’re not providing coverage today; they said they’re not providing coverage indefinitely, and there is no plan for replacement coverage.”