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FIRST ON FOX — As President Donald Trump approaches the milestone of his second term’s 100th day, recent analysis by the Media Research Center (MRC) indicates that evening news broadcasts from ABC, NBC, and CBS have delivered an overwhelming 92% negative portrayal of him.
Between January 20 and April 9, the MRC reviewed 899 segments covering Trump or his administration on these networks. The findings highlight a stark imbalance in reporting, with negative coverage comprising 92.2% contrasted with a modest 7.8% positive exposure.
Researcher Rich Noyes commented, “The landscape of evening news for President Trump during his second term is more skewed than eight years ago when he faced intense negative coverage.”
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The MRC’s analysis of evening broadcasts during this period mirrors past scrutiny; a similar study eight years prior found Trump experienced 89% negative reporting in the early days of his first term.
In stark contrast, media coverage of former President Joe Biden during his initial 100 days was notably more favorable, with 59% of stories categorized as positive.
“Despite ongoing negative narratives surrounding Trump, networks continue to find him a compelling news figure compared to Biden,” Noyes elaborated. The analysis revealed that from January 20 to April 9, 2017, there were 1,900 minutes devoted to Trump. In the same timeframe this year, coverage totaled 1,716 minutes, while Biden garnered only 726 minutes of airtime in 2021.
The MRC assessed the tone of coverage by counting “all explicitly evaluative statements” related to Trump from journalists, anchors, and impartial sources, intentionally excluding partisan opinions from elected officials.
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The study further examined the content of coverage, revealing a shift from personal scandals typically associated with Trump’s first term to a focus on policy matters during this period. Tariff discussions led the coverage with 361 minutes, followed by 301 minutes concerning government cuts related to the DOGE initiative, and immigration issues receiving 233 minutes, according to the report.
“The coverage surrounding Trump’s tariffs featured a staggering 93% negative tone, whereas narratives regarding the DOGE cuts received 97% negative coverage,” Noyes noted. “Even topics where public opinion shows favor towards Trump, like immigration, attracted 93% negative scrutiny.” Out of nearly four hours dedicated to immigration, only 3.5 minutes informed viewers about decreases in border crossings.
His close advisors also did not escape negative portrayals; for instance, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced 89% negative coverage, Elon Musk received 96%, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was subjected to 100% negative press from the networks.
Both ABC and NBC were asked for their take on the study but did not provide immediate responses.
Trump’s history with these networks is tumultuous. He currently pursues a $20 billion lawsuit against CBS, alleging interference related to a contentious “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris last year. Additionally, Trump settled a $15 million defamation suit against ABC and has ties to NBC through his previous role as host of “The Apprentice.”
A White House spokesperson remarked, “The mainstream media persistently frames President Trump’s achievements negatively, despite the support of 77 million Americans who backed his policies. The public recognizes that the President puts the country first, which is reflected in the plummeting ratings of legacy media as audiences look for alternative news sources.”
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