Mainstream media detailed Trump’s multiple false and misleading claims but ignored how that was a deliberate strategy for demolishing our democratic republican institutions.

About 36.6 million people watched President Donald Trump’s Address to the Joint Congress on 15 different networks. That is the lowest viewership Trump received from his prior four State of the Union speeches. Nevertheless, it was higher than three of President Biden’s four addresses. Trump knows how to attract a TV audience.

Unfortunately, his address differed from all previous presidential speeches in that he lied more than any other president.

Thomas B. Edsall is the Pulitzer Moore Professor of Public Affairs Journalism at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He wrote: “Donald Trump can lay claim to the title of most prodigious liar in the history of the presidency.”

George C. Edwards III is the Jordan Chair in Presidential Studies Emeritus at Texas A&M University. He wrote: “Donald Trump tells more untruths than any previous president. There is no one that is a close second.”

The following nine networks summarized the takeaways each found in Trump’s address: CBS, CNN, NPR, Al Jazeera, AP News, Fox News, the New York Times, Time Magazine, and the Washington Post. The consensus was that Trump promoted blatantly false claims and used them to attack Democrats and their policies.

A wealth of data shows how Trump’s flood of executive orders and appointments has created immediate confusion and chaos in delivering services. But detailing that process demands a separate effort.

First, it is necessary to understand that Trump’s strategy was to repeatedly accuse established successful liberal programs and institutions of corruption without the slightest evidence. Second, his strategy succeeded in gaining many viewers who approved his Address.

Trump’s narcissistic boasting of fantastic accomplishments sets him apart from other presidents.

Trump’s personality is shiny, like fool’s gold. CBS News and YouGov survey results showed that most viewers of his congressional address described the president as “presidential,” “inspiring,” and more “unifying” than “divisive.” A significant majority also called it “entertaining.”

That last attribute explains why many citizens do not take his draconian measures seriously. Trump is entertaining to many, and the media reports his half-joking comments without challenging their impact on citizens. Time Magazine’slead apprehends it soundly: Trump Uses Big Speech to Spin Alternate Reality of ‘Astronomical Achievements.’

Time described his behavior this way: Facts were not the point of the speech; if it felt ‘overwhelming, that is because it is, and by design. NPR did an in-depth annotated fact check of more than 20 things that Trump said, which can be found here. Below are three that capture the Trumpian reality that his followers dwell in.

“It has been stated by many … our presidency is the most successful in the history of our nation. Do you know No. 2 is? George Washington.” The White House presented no list to substantiate this comparison.

“For the........

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