The Trump administration also mounted efforts to sideline key players in the political system. President Trump's rhetorical attacks on critics in the media are an example. His repeated accusations that outlets such as the New York Times and CNN were dispensing "fake news" and conspiring against him look familiar to any student of authoritarianism.
The Trump administration engaged in tactics aimed at undermining influential figures within the political landscape. President Trump's frequent and aggressive verbal assaults on media critics illustrate this approach. By labeling prominent outlets like the New York Times and CNN as "fake news," he positioned these organizations as adversaries, seeking to discredit their credibility.
This strategy draws parallels to authoritarian regimes, where leaders often delegitimize their opponents and the press. Such rhetoric...
