In 2016, former National Enquirer boss David Pecker testified under oath about his collusion with Donald Trump to boost his candidacy and smear his opponents using the tabloid as a political weapon. Pecker admitted to running positive stories about Trump and negative stories about his opponents, working with Michael Cohen to bury damaging stories such as Karen McDougal’s allegations of an affair. Despite some stories being false, Pecker and the Enquirer were committed to protecting Trump at all costs.
Pecker revealed that he worked with Cohen to target Trump’s Republican rivals in the 2016 primary, communicating with him to attack candidates like Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio. Pecker testified that Cohen would direct the Enquirer on which stories to run and would provide additional information to embellish those stories. Trump was pleased with negative stories about Bill and Hillary Clinton, showing his approval of the Enquirer’s tactics during the election.
The relationship between Trump and Pecker was kept secret from Enquirer staff, with Pecker operating a clandestine email account to prevent leaks and ensure the pact with Trump remained confidential. Despite the end of the Enquirer’s involvement in boosting Trump and attacking his opponents, similar tactics are still prevalent in right-wing media, such as Fox News. While the hush-money case has shed light on unethical behavior in the media, Trump continues to exploit this to his advantage.
Fox News and other right-wing media outlets have been criticized for their biased coverage of the hush-money trial, with limited coverage of the explosive revelations from Pecker. Instead, these outlets continue to launch attacks on President Joe Biden, highlighting the partisan nature of media coverage. Trump’s ability to manipulate the media and his supporters through biased reporting and unethical behavior remains a significant factor in contemporary politics, as evidenced by the revelations from the trial.
The hush-money case underscores the collusion between Trump and the media during the 2016 election, with Pecker’s testimony revealing the extent of their coordination to influence public opinion and damage Trump’s opponents. The impact of media collusion on political campaigns and public discourse continues to be a topic of concern, especially as similar tactics persist in modern media outlets. The exposure of these unethical practices serves as a reminder of the importance of ethical and unbiased journalism in maintaining a healthy democracy.
