The role of the press in holding political leaders accountable was shirked for the entirety of the Trump administration. During Trump’s presidency, the media made little effort to fact-check or counter his misinformation and false claims. This failure influenced public opinion, sown division, and now affects the 2024 presidential race.

Donald Trump dominated the media narrative in 2016. From the moment he launched his campaign, Trump understood how to manipulate media coverage. His controversial statements, incendiary rhetoric, and bold claims, which were often false, generated massive amounts of media attention. The sheer volume of his statements overwhelmed the traditional fact-checking process. They had never seen such a lucid liar. Journalists had trouble keeping up. As a result, false claims were often reported without sufficient scrutiny.

In an attempt to maintain balance and impartiality, many outlets gave equal weight to both Trump’s statements and those of his opponents, even though Trump lied. This created a false equivalency, where lies were placed on the same level as verified facts. For example, Trump’s repeated false claims about Barack Obama’s birthplace (the "birther" conspiracy) were given airtime and discussion, despite lacking any factual basis. By doing so, the media helped legitimize these falsehoods, allowing them to persist in public discourse.

The media’s focus was on sensationalism and ratings. Trump's behavior was compelling television. He drove viewership and FOX led the charge in selling their souls for ratings. Cable news networks followed suit, tired of principled lower ratings. Constant Trump exposure without fact-checking not only normalized his lies but provided him with billions of dollars of free media coverage, a boost his 2016 election bid needed.

Trump’s repeated false claims about election integrity and widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election were amplified by the media. Some outlets began to fact-check Trump, but his lies had already taken root in his supporters’ minds. This distrust culminated in the January 6th insurrection. Even after the courts rejected Trump's fraud claims, enough of the public stayed convinced that the election was stolen. Trump incited the insurrectionists. Treasonous Republicans upheld his lies. Representatives as well as the former president must face the appropriate consequences.

The unchecked spread of Trump's misinformation eroded trust in the media itself. Trump supporters view mainstream outlets (save FOX) as untrustworthy, but conspiracy influencers and alternative media are credible because Trump says so. This distrust has contributed to facts becoming subjective and partisan identities becoming steadfast.

The media’s initial failure to counter Donald Trump’s lies has had long-lasting effects on American democracy. By allowing misinformation to spread unchecked, the media normalized falsehoods, fueled division, and undermined trust in both the press and the electoral system. While some outlets have since adopted fact-checking and accountability, the damage done shapes political discourse and public opinion. The media definitely benefited from the tumult of Trump, but it has suffered the loss of its greatest asset – credibility.