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Mainstream media coverage of President Donald Trump’s nominees has been nearly all negative, according to a new study.
The Media Research Center (MRC) released the new report based on research of coverage at ABC, CBS and NBC.
“Across all three networks, the coverage of Gabbard, Patel, and the handful of other nominees mentioned was entirely negative. Only Pete Hegseth, who received the lion’s share of the airtime, enjoyed a scant four positive evaluative statements, all of which cited his mother describing him as ‘redeemed’ and ‘a changed man,” the study shared.
Overall, the coverage from NBC has been 100 percent negative. CBS was 96.7 percent negative, while ABC was 91 percent negative in the study.
“This pattern of focus suggests that the broadcast networks were budgeting their coverage of Cabinet appointees based on whose nomination they felt they had the best chance of sinking. When Patel looked relatively safe, they began hammering the various scandals plaguing Hegseth. Then when Hegseth’s odds improved, they immediately lost interest and returned to slamming Patel as a ‘controversial’ and concerning’ pick,” MRC said.
Two of Trump’s nominees have already ended the process, including former Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, who was briefly considered as the U.S. General Attorney.
Pete Hegseth, nominated by Trump to serve as Secretary of Defense, has received additional support from the president and other conservative lawmakers despite media attacks.
During an interview about Trump’s nominees with the Wall Street Journal, Trump Senior Adviser Jason Miller said, “Well right now this is President Trump’s party, and he won with a mandate. He won the popular vote. He should have the right to put in his people to run the various Cabinet agencies,” RSBN previously reported.
Miller told the outlet that he believes Hegseth will be confirmed as the next Secretary of Defense and that all of Trump’s current nominees will sail through the process.
He credited the positive reception from the Senate to Trump “knowing exactly who he wants to put in to implement that agenda and the record pace at which he is moving.”