American voters see an anti-Trump bias in the media, and half believe the media are trying to “move the blame” for the coronavirus away from China and to the president to help defeat him in November.
What’s more, a majority of those who watch the daily briefings said the media are disrespectful of the president.
The latest McLaughlin & Associates poll found that 49% of voters believe the media are helping the Democrats take out Trump in the current crisis.
The poll analysis shared with Secrets read, “The plurality of voters, 49%, agreed with the statement, ‘The Democrats and liberal national media are trying to move the blame for the spread of coronavirus away from China to President Trump for partisan political gain just to win the November elections’; only 42% disagreed. Republicans overwhelmingly agreed 80% to 15%. Independents agreed 47% to 43%, and even 22% of Democrats agreed.”
The split was similar on the question of bias and unfair coverage of Trump, who almost daily has complained about the press and the stories written about his fight to contain the virus.
McLaughlin found that 48% of voters said the coverage “has been unfair, biased, and even disrespectful to the president.” Some 42% said the media outlets were fair in its Trump coverage.
Key was the finding that those who regularly watch the briefings said the bias really stands out.
The gap was wider for those who watch the daily coronavirus task force briefings.
“Among all voters, 56% regularly watch President Trump’s coronavirus task force briefings,” the polling company said. “Among these voters who regularly watch the briefings, 59% to 37% they say that the media is unfair, biased, and disrespectful. While those who do not regularly watch the briefings only 34% say the media is unfair and 51% say that they are fair. The briefings are showing the bias and disrespect of members of the media towards the president.”
