Media Struggles to Accurately Report on Trump's Falsehoods

Debates continue over how the media should cover Trump's frequent misleading statements and outright lies.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The article discusses the ongoing challenges the mainstream media faces in accurately reporting on the false and misleading statements made by former President Donald Trump. It highlights how the media often either downplays Trump's incoherent remarks or treats his obvious lies as sincere declarations, in an effort to fit his rhetoric within conventional political norms. The author argues this stems from the media's desperation to avoid fully reporting on how far outside of sanity Trump operates, as well as pressure from the GOP to avoid perceived liberal bias.

Why it matters

The media's struggle to properly contextualize and fact-check Trump's statements has significant implications for public understanding of political issues and the integrity of journalism. By failing to consistently call out Trump's falsehoods, the media risks enabling the spread of misinformation and failing in its duty to inform the public.

The details

The article cites examples of the media's tendency to 'sanewash' Trump's statements, either cleaning up his incoherent rhetoric to sound like real policy or treating his obvious lies as sincere declarations. This includes coverage of issues like immigration enforcement in Minneapolis and Trump's interest in purchasing Greenland. The author argues this stems from the media's desire to fit Trump within conventional political norms, rather than fully reporting on how far outside of reality his statements often are.

  • The article was published on February 23, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, known for making frequent false and misleading statements.

Margaret Sullivan

A media critic who has been sharply critical of the mainstream media's coverage of Trump.

Aaron Blake

A CNN journalist who provided important context around Trump's statements about Greenland, an exception to the general trend of the media.

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What they’re saying

“Crazy idea: maybe don't write headlines that treat Trump's words as equivalent to reality when a decade of evidence suggests they're often the opposite.”

— Margaret Sullivan, Media Critic (Newsletter)

The takeaway

The media's ongoing struggle to accurately report on Trump's falsehoods highlights the need for more rigorous fact-checking, context-providing journalism that does not treat the former president's statements as equivalent to truth, even when he backs down from his more outrageous claims. Improving this coverage is crucial for maintaining an informed public and the integrity of the press.