I spent a full hour watching Trump TV. It’s a digital pathway to hell | Dave Schilling
The streaming channel was full of the president’s vanity and myopia. It was also deeply, deeply dull Are you currently at an airport? Strapped to a hospital bed, with various tubes protruding from your body? Maybe you’re on a treadmill or visiting an elder care facility? Chained to a radiator in the basement from the Saw movies? If you said yes to any of these questions, you might be watching…
I dedicated an entire hour to watching Trump TV, a digital channel dedicated to showcasing President Trump's content exclusively. This YouTube streaming channel broadcasts White House-sanctioned material 24/7, seven days a week. Intrigued by the challenge, I attempted to immerse myself in the experience, hoping to discern any redeeming qualities amidst the cacophony of opinionated individuals and cacophonous debates.
Upon launching the stream, I was greeted with a 2016 speech President Trump gave in Hebron, Kentucky. His delivery was haphazard and unscripted, reminiscent of a man unversed in the art of public speaking. As I listened, I couldn't help but feel as though reality itself was destabilizing around me, a sensation akin to watching an ice cream cone melt on a scorching day.
President Trump shared anecdotes about the stairs he had to ascend and descend, despite his well-documented fear of heights. His concern for the stairs, which he deemed slippery, was amusing in its absurdity. He proceeded to jest about Joe Biden's infamous stumble, juxtaposing it with his own fear of falling. The president's amusement at his own banter was palpable, a stark contrast to his often somber demeanor in other settings.
The stream then shifted to a tribute for Dr. Oz, who had recently appeared on television. The segment highlighted his advocacy for artificial intelligence and left me pondering why I had subjected myself to such an exercise in futility. As I contemplated the reasons for my engagement, I realized that the true question I should have been asking was why I had chosen to partake in this spectacle in the first place.
Next, I witnessed a re-enactment of Melania Trump's speech on artificial intelligence, a topic I found particularly perplexing. The fervor with which she spoke left me questioning the relevance of such topics in a world increasingly consumed by digital media. Finally, I tuned in to the National Prayer Breakfast, a gathering where President Trump acknowledged his administration's efforts to promote religious liberty.
However, his remarks were met with a sense of irony, given the history of his administration's treatment of the press.
Throughout the hour, I couldn't help but marvel at the dedication of some individuals to remain glued to their screens, consuming content that seemed to hold little significance in their daily lives. The numbers were telling – only a mere fraction of the U.S. population engaged with cable news, and even that number was predominantly composed of older demographics. The vast majority of Americans, it seemed, found their information through other sources, with Fox News being the most popular choice among its viewers.
As I concluded my hour-long endeavor, I couldn't help but question the purpose of Trump TV and the obsession it represented for some individuals. In a nation where freedom of the press was a cornerstone of democracy, the idea of silencing or ostracizing certain news outlets was disconcerting. The act of watching Trump TV felt like a descent into a digital abyss, a surreal experience that left me questioning the sanity of those who willingly subjected themselves to such a barrage of unfiltered opinions and partisan rhetoric.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
