Team Trump Must Be 'Fake News'

Almost half (46 percent) of voters believe media make up stories about Donald Trump and his administration, according to a new Politico/Morning Consult survey.

It’s surprising that figure isn’t higher. The off-the wall actions/policies of the Trump Administration must be "fake news." This can't be happening in the U.S. Right?

It’s hard to swallow that America is led by someone as disengaged from reality (never mind policy) as our commander-in-chief. Here are some highlights of the past week.

The media report today that Trump told the widow of an Army sergeant who was killed in action in Niger that he “knew what he was getting into.” Why would the President say that to a grieving widow? It must be “fake news.”

Or what about news that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called Trump a “moron?” Tillerson, who had the opportunity to deny that claim, declined to do so? Why would a cabinet member insult the intelligence of the President? It must be fake news.

And then there was the Oct 16 Washington Post/”60 Minutes” blockbuster that Trump’s nominee to lead the Office of National Drug Policy, Rep. Tom Marino of Pennsylvania, crafted legislation that weakened the Drug Enforcement Agency from stopping companies from distributing massive amounts of opioids.

For instance, Marino’s bill allowed a drug company to ship 11M doses of oxycodone and hydrocodone to Mingo County WV, an 11,000 population area in a state that is the heart of the opioid crisis. [Meanwhile, Trump claims his terrific war on coal has completely turned around the economy of the Mountain State. We know how that claim is going to turn out as the world ditches coal for shale/natural gas.] Why would a President select a guy like Marino—who is now out of the drug czar picture--for the ONDP post. It must be more fake news.

The media aren't to blame for reporting on the many shortcomings of Team Trump. Marty Baron, executive editor of WaPO, told the National Press Club Oct 16: “Truth may be elusive, but there is such a thing as truth. It’s not just a matter of personal opinion. And our job is to come in every day, do our job, do our work, and try to determine the truth.”

The 46 percent in the poll who think the media are making it up live in a state of suspended belief. They just can’t fathom how such an unqualified individual is sitting in the White House. Result: scapegoat the media for the dysfunctional Administration. Deny reality. Make Us Feel Great Again, indeed.

Trump recently said: “The media is absolutely dishonest—and frankly, I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”

The American people have never seen anything quite like what’s going on in the White House. Trust in the media will ultimately win out once America accepts Trump for what he really is.