Trump's standard operating procedure-conflict, insults, reversals, dismissals-is still reported with breathless surprise. The most obvious man on earth is yet, to the media, always astonishing. Whose fault is that? Covering a train wreck requires different skills from covering politics. But political reporters continue to apply the hyperrationality of political life and its heightened sense of cause and effect to Trump and his White House. Power, in this view, necessarily has logic and purpose.
Michael Wolff's "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House" critiques the media’s ongoing astonishment at Donald Trump's behavior. His approach, characterized by conflict, insults, and abrupt reversals, is treated by political reporters as if it follows the usual logical patterns of politics. This reveals a disconnect, as Trump's actions often defy traditional expectations and rationality.
The challenge for political journalists is that they apply a framework designed for rational political discourse to Trump's chaotic style. This results in a misunderstanding of his methods and motives, as they fail to acknowledge that Trump's dealings do not adhere to the conventional logic that typically defines political power and purpose.
