Trump, Biden, and Media Bias: A Critical Analysis

Over the past 30 years, the mainstream media has systematically eroded its own credibility by preaching objectivity while promoting an increasingly partisan worldview. Its failure to self-correct in the face of blatant bias—particularly during the Trump and Biden years—has not only alienated half the country, but also created the very conditions in which Trump’s heavy-handed attacks on the press could thrive.

1. The Myth of Objective Journalism

Legacy outlets like The New York Times, CNN, and The Guardian have long positioned themselves as guardians of truth and democracy.
But their reporting has often reflected a consistent progressive-liberal moral frame, not only in editorials but also in story selection, language, and presumed values.

By insisting that “facts are sacred” while packaging them with loaded narratives, the media alienated large swaths of the population who saw their own concerns caricatured or ignored.

See:
– The NYT’s 1619 Project for an example of activist framing posing as fact.
– BBC accused of bias over Brexit – perceived left-liberal framing of political events in the UK.

2. The Trump Catalyst: Moral Panic and Media Meltdown

Trump’s arrival on the political stage revealed the extent of the media’s abandonment of neutrality. Coverage of him often crossed the line from critique to hysteria—portraying him as a fascist dictator, a Russian agent, or the return of Hitler.

See:
– The Atlantic: “The Trump Presidency: A Danger to Democracy”
– CNN anchor compares Trump rallies to Hitler’s

Instead of acting as a corrective force, the media became a key player in the culture war it claimed only to observe.

3. Selective Scrutiny: The Biden Double Standard

While Trump was attacked relentlessly for every gaffe or accusation, Biden has benefited from a coordinated media downplay of:

• His cognitive decline
• The Hunter Biden laptop story, initially dismissed as Russian disinformation
• Allegations of Biden family corruption

See:
– New York Post: Hunter Biden laptop timeline
– Twitter Files coverage by Matt Taibbi
– ABC’s edited interview omitting Biden’s confusion

This imbalance confirmed for many that the press is not seeking truth but protecting its political tribe.

4. The Rebound: When the Press Breaks Itself, Power Fills the Void

In this climate of lost trust and visible hypocrisy, Trump’s attacks on the media no longer seemed outrageous to his base—they seemed justified.

His lawsuits, FCC investigations, and White House access restrictions represent a dangerous escalation—but one made politically possible by years of institutional double standards.

See:
– Guardian exposé on Trump’s media crackdown (July 2025)

The media’s selective concern for free speech—only when it suits their side—has left it exposed to genuine threats without the moral authority to defend itself.

5. The Real Threat: Illiberalism on Both Sides

A healthy democracy requires press freedom—but also press integrity.

Today we face a double danger:
– A right-wing authoritarianism emboldened by public rage
– A left-liberal establishment willing to censor or distort in the name of “justice” or “safety”

Until the mainstream press recommits to honest, impartial reporting—especially when it implicates their own side—they cannot credibly claim to be defenders of truth.

See:
– The Free Speech Crisis in the Academy
– Substack: Left illiberalism and the new moral order

Conclusion

The Guardian’s recent exposé of Trump’s war on the press is alarming—but incomplete. The media has not merely been a victim of authoritarianism; it has also been its enabler.

By betraying its duty to speak truth without favour, it forfeited its authority—and in doing so, invited the very crackdown it now laments.