Donald Trump’s arrival by helicopter in Cleveland Wednesday afternoon earned him breathless, wall-to-wall coverage from the major cable news networks, including CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, the Fox Business Network, CNBC and HLN.
Breaking news on CNN: pic.twitter.com/FBtb4tJpEa
— CNNBreakingNewsBot (@ATTENTION_CNN) July 20, 2016
The general tone of the coverage earned sharp criticism from several social media users, including many who are in media.
“‘Politician lands at airport’ journalism is almost as terrible as my kind of journalism,” said IJ Review’s Justin Green. “Seriously, who gives a crap about a plane landing. That’s the garbage that should be reserved for monarchs and autocrats.”
We deserve our fate. No doubt about it. #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/WWBljvnZ5o
— Andrew Kirell (@AndrewKirell) July 20, 2016
Though each of the networks spent a significant amount of valuable airtime filming and narrating Trump’s landing in Cleveland with his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, CNN’s coverage received the most criticism on social media.
“Trump’s Cleveland entrance isn’t all that dramatic, but no one appears to have told CNN,” said Reason’s Peter Suderman.
Part of the mockery for CNN stemmed from its use of dramatic and excitable on-air headlines, including one that read, “Trump-emblazoned chopper flies over Cleveland.”
CNN’s chyrons have gone rogue: “TRUMP-EMBLAZONED CHOPPER FLIES OVER CLEVELAND” pic.twitter.com/dOiUcWYRCU
— Mike Madden (@MikeMadden) July 20, 2016
CNN went next-level for this Trump landing pic.twitter.com/CJYitp2AfI
— Brett LoGiurato (@BrettLoGiurato) July 20, 2016
“How do you even look at yourself in the mirror CNN?” asked BuzzFeed’s Miriam Elder.
The Washington Examiner’s Kyle Feldscher added, “Breathless CNN narration of Trump’s helicopter landing is objectively the worst.”
“I just watched 20 minutes of @CNN covering @realDonaldTrump landing in a plane, then getting in a helicopter,” said A Plus reporter Isaac Saul.
CNN media reporter Brian Stelter defended the coverage.
“[Trump] may well be the next president – his arrival in the convention city is news,” he said on Twitter.
The press’ coverage of the GOP candidates’ aerial arrival in Cleveland Wednesday afternoon is reminiscent of the time CNN, MSNBC and Fox News spent 30 minutes in March broadcasting live footage of an empty podium ahead of a Trump press conference.
Fox:
CNN here:
MSNBC:
“It is worth noting that Trump’s banner directs [supporters] to text ‘TRUMP’ to a number, presumably to allow the campaign to build its Pine Tree State list,” Mediaite’s Sam Reisman noted at the time.
“So Trump effectively got the three networks to air a free billboard for about half an hour,” he added. “The address had been scheduled for 1:30pm. When Trump didn’t show, each network commenced to provide live updates of what an unattended stage looks like for 30 minutes.”
