Second coming of Trump a disaster

Those who are familiar with The Apprentice, the American reality television show created by British TV producer Mark Burnett, and co-produced with Donald Trump, will attest to the notion that the 47th president of the US who is having his second bite of the presidential cake, is running the affairs of the White House, especially the media briefings, like his own reality TV show.

- Themba Sepotokele

His first tenure as president between 2017 and 2021 was disastrous when it comes to media relations. Trump single-handedly destroyed government and media relations in the US, with his dismissive approach to journalists, especially during televised media briefings.

His return to power signalled another terrible chapter for the media, especially those working for media houses he regards as anti-Maga.

During the International News Media Association 95th world congress, which took place during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the White House it was reported that barely in the office for 120 days, Trump was, thus far “the biggest news story in the world today”.

In his 100 days in office, freedom of speech has been severely affected, media freedom has been curtailed, journalism is more litigious, government and media relations at their lowest ebb, and there's a rise of regulatory pressures on the public media in the US.