Dear Editor,

In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s resounding victory over Kamala Harris, we stand on the precipice of a moment that defies conventional understanding. This election year in the USA, marked by chaos and absurdity, compels us to confront an uncomfortable truth: the dissonance between elite narratives and the lived realities of ordinary Americans has reached a crescendo.

The mainstream media, with its self-appointed role as arbiter of democracy, has spun tales that cast Trump as the embodiment of tyranny, a spectre of fascism lurking in the shadows. Yet the truth is far more nuanced. Most Americans, it seems, have rejected these grandiose framings, refusing to see a man they know, however divisive, as the monster the media has conjured.

The narrative of democracy under siege, echoed in the theatrics of the January 6 committee, has failed to penetrate the hearts and minds of the electorate. Meanwhile, the Democrats, in a move that reeked of political expediency, replaced their sitting president without so much as a nod to the democratic process. They installed a nominee who was never chosen by the people but rather anointed by a select few. The media never attempted to scrutinise this undemocratic manoeuvre, showing us clearly they had no journalistic integrity as soon as Harris was elevated.

In a curious twist, the Democrats’ campaign embraced Liz Cheney, a figure spurned by her own party, under the banner of “country over party”. Yet this was less a call for unity and more a desperate act of contrivance. The media, in its eagerness, celebrated this as a beacon of bipartisanship, glossing over the reality of Cheney’s historical rejection by both the right and the left.

Contrast this with Trump’s coalition-building efforts, which included the unexpected alliance with Robert F Kennedy Jr — a partnership that struck at the heart of free speech and progressive ideals. This was real unity, formed not through the artifice of political theatre but through genuine dialogue and shared vision. Yet the mainstream press chose to ignore this burgeoning movement, opting instead to propagate a narrative that fell apart under scrutiny.

Indeed, the 2024 election marks the collapse of the mainstream media as we know it. Major news organisations have hit rock bottom, losing viewers and credibility, exposed as breeding grounds for liberal activists posing as reporters. A recent Gallup poll reveals that trust in the media has plummeted to a historic low, even beneath that of Congress. Less than a third of Americans express a “great deal” or “fair amount” of confidence in the media to report the news “fully, accurately, and fairly”.

Appallingly, 36 per cent of Americans report having no trust in the media, while another 33 per cent express only minimal confidence. This staggering statistic reflects over two-thirds of the population that has lost faith in traditional news outlets. The real threat to democracy lies not in Trump’s rise but in a media landscape that has become a sell-out. As Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos lamented, “Something we are doing is clearly not working.”

The media ranks lowest among civic and political institutions in public trust, with only 12 per cent of Republicans and 27 per cent of independents expressing confidence in it. Young people are increasingly rejecting mainstream media as untrustworthy, a trend that is unsurprising given the growing liberal bias that pervades so many newspapers and TV stations.

The mainstream media decries Trump’s characterisation of them as “the enemy of the state”, yet their lopsided coverage validates his claims. A recent analysis by the conservative Media Research Center revealed that 85 per cent of TV news coverage of Trump has been negative, while a staggering 78 per cent of coverage of Harris was positive. This is the largest discrepancy observed in decades of analysis. It is remarkable that despite this bias Trump closed in on Harris in the polls.

The media’s editorial integrity has been eroded; the line between news reporting and opinion has all but vanished. When Bezos chose not to endorse Harris, the uproar among reporters and editors demonstrated their inability to maintain objectivity. Such bias is why many voters turned to podcasts and social media for their news, bypassing traditional outlets altogether.

Trump’s media strategy was equally unorthodox. By engaging with podcasters and influencers, he bypassed the dying traditional press, allowing his authenticity to shine through, unfiltered by the relentless negativity that has characterised much of his coverage. In doing so, he revealed a side that resonated with many — a stark contrast to the caricature painted by the media.

As we digest the results of this election, it becomes clear: this is not merely a victory for Trump but a profound repudiation of the narratives spun by the establishment. The so-called “Zombie Elites”, entrenched in their power across politics, academia, and beyond, have been unmasked, their influence diminished by a diverse coalition of Americans who refuse to be defined by their dictates; consequently, their dictates said Trump was a dictator and divisive despite the diverse coalition.

Trump has installed the first female chief of staff, but don’t expect the mainstream media to play that up. Trump is a misogynist, remember!

As we brace ourselves for the sequel of the Trump era, we must prepare for the inevitable backlash from those who cling desperately to their fading power. Their hysterical flailing will be a sight to behold, but beneath it lies an opportunity for genuine discourse, for realignment, and for a reckoning with the truths we have long ignored.

Yannick Nesta Pessoa

yannickpessoa@yahoo.com