The left’s reaction to Trump’s comeback victory shows just how much the mainstream media still doesn’t get it. Trump’s return to the White House—the first president to pull off a comeback since Grover Cleveland—is monumental, but you’d think it was the end of democracy itself the way the left-leaning media reported it. With the AP calling his campaign “bare-knuckle” and MSNBC reeling from every poll update, the media’s coverage of Trump’s comeback underscored just how little they understand Trump’s appeal—or, frankly, the Americans who voted for him.
Let’s start with the usual panic. The AP couldn’t help but recount Trump’s “coarse” language and “bare-knuckle” style, and they painted his campaign as an apocalypse in the making, accusing him of “misogynistic and racist” attacks. From their perspective, it’s inconceivable that Trump’s message about border security, crime, and American strength could resonate with a significant slice of the country. Yet, here we are—Trump not only clinched the presidency with his win in Wisconsin but also carried more states than he did in 2020. For millions, his straightforward, no-nonsense approach to American issues hit home, yet the media acts as if these supporters just don’t know what’s good for them.
MSNBC’s @JonLemire: “Donald Trump, it must be said, a president impeached twice, botched the handling of the pandemic, he faced four criminal cases, he inspired Jan 6th & he won anyway. And now he’ll return to office with few guardrails internally, encouragement from Moscow &… pic.twitter.com/orDtlROk4s
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) November 6, 2024
Kamala Harris, meanwhile, was treated like a symbol of “hope and joy”—words that apparently didn’t translate into votes. She took over the ticket after Biden stepped down, and though she had the backing of a media machine rooting for the first woman of color at the top, the voters weren’t impressed. Her campaign tried to focus on “unity” and “optimism,” but this tone was painfully disconnected from the concerns on Americans’ minds. Harris pushed an agenda based on climate, reproductive rights, and progressive values, while inflation, crime, and global instability were what Americans were actually worried about.
And, of course, the media treated Trump’s win as a doomsday scenario. The AP warned of his “threats” to democracy, portraying his campaign promises of “justice” and “retribution” as something sinister rather than his push to fix what he sees as a government that’s lost touch with its citizens. He’s been clear that he wants to get tough on crime, tackle border issues head-on, and take a hard line on America’s global rivals. Yet somehow, the press sees this as a “radical agenda.”
Let’s not ignore the snide comments about Trump’s so-called “hypermasculinity” and “anger.” The AP and MSNBC seem offended that Trump’s image appeals to those tired of pandering and endless political doublespeak. Trump’s blunt style is precisely why voters flocked to him. When he talks about cracking down on crime or taking action on illegal immigration, people believe him because he’s not mincing words or following a polished PR script.
And the media wasn’t done wringing its hands. As election night played out, the media ran segments rehashing every accusation and charge Trump’s faced—convictions, indictments, you name it—like they were trying to relitigate 2020 all over again. Yet, the fact remains: none of it stopped voters from turning out for him. Instead, Trump used these attacks as fuel, positioning himself as a target of overreach and elitist disdain—a message that resonated deeply among Republicans tired of “business as usual.”
“It’s time for the Democrats to take a good, long hard look at how this happened, and if they just say ‘Trump bad, Democrats virtuous’ they’re gonna keep losing. This is not about just Trump; this is about the Democrats and being radically disconnected from rest of the country.”… pic.twitter.com/NPxFmp2wV7
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) November 6, 2024
The coverage also conveniently sidestepped the glaring problems on the Democratic side. Harris struggled to connect with working-class voters and fell short on nearly every measure compared to Biden in 2020. Her platform simply didn’t connect, and voters saw through it. The media’s bafflement at this loss is almost laughable because it overlooks that Americans vote based on real concerns, not on an idealized vision of unity.
“This was a sweeping victory. He looks like he will be the first president in two decades to win the popular vote.”@jonkarl has more on Donald Trump’s historic political comeback to secure a return to the White House. https://t.co/05YwkDwzOR pic.twitter.com/NEcUDZP4HQ
— Good Morning America (@GMA) November 6, 2024
As Trump prepares to take office, he’s positioned to go in with a Senate majority and far fewer checks from his own party—a mandate his supporters expect him to use to bring change. The media can keep calling it a threat or a “dark” turn, but if election night coverage proved anything, it’s that they still haven’t come to grips with why so many Americans support him. They’d do well to start paying attention because Trump’s victory speaks volumes about what the country actually wants.
