The corporate press has long prided itself as the gatekeeper of democratic norms. But in the last few years, their “sacred airwaves” have curdled into guardianship of a failing elitist establishment. Jake Tapper’s latest book “Original Sin” and an unconvincing media pivot toward acknowledging Biden’s cognitive decline leave Americans scoffing.

Voters see the media for its efforts to save face after the unequivocal tarnishing of a president they once protected. Legacy outlets are now attempting to rewrite the narrative, deflecting from their continued chronic bias in every story to isolating a “tragedy” after being caught out regarding Joe Biden.

The Narrative Shield

From 2021 through much of 2024, media institutions actively framed Biden as “sharp,” “seasoned,” and “empathetic.” These descriptors were used to dismiss real concerns about his declining mental acuity. White House staff stumbling to cover for public gaffes, verbal confusion, or disappearing from major events were treated as “bad optics” rather than serious red flags.

Critics who raised alarms early on were labeled conspiracy theorists or right-wing agitators. At no point did major outlets investigate claims about physical deterioration, wheelchair use, or near-constant teleprompter dependence. Americans are adamant that the press functioned as crisis managers, not reporters.

Admissions by the media only began after the 2024 election cycle ended—and even then, the recalibration has been more about preserving institutional reputations than informing the public.

Jake Tapper’s Book

Jake Tapper’s book “Original Sin” has become a lightning rod, not for what it reveals, but for what it confirms. The book details Biden’s performance in private settings, internal White House dysfunction, and staffers' quiet panic over his ability to finish his term. These admissions came long after conservative outlets and social media users documented similar evidence.

The public reaction has been scathing. Comments across platforms suggest 75-80% of voters believe media figures like Tapper knew all along and chose silence for political reasons. Only about 20-25% argue the press was deceived alongside the public.

In this environment, Americans view Tapper’s book as opportunistic narrative control. They say it’s damage control in hardback.

Public Sentiment and Media Collapse

The legacy press is moving from distrust among voters to mockery. The backlash against outlets like CNN, MSNBC, and The New York Times stems from the belief they deliberately protected Biden to block Trump and steer public opinion. That belief is now widespread, including among Independents and some Democrats.

Social media posts in the past 72 hours show a common refrain: “They’re only telling the truth now because it’s safe.” This collapse of trust was already underway, but the Biden coverup accelerates it. His obvious decline, paired with the media’s refusal to cover it in real time, turns healthy skepticism into outright contempt.

Voters now see no meaningful distinction between Democratic messaging and media reporting.

Rewriting History, Redirecting Blame

The timing of these revelations is also a cause for incredulity. With Biden retired and unelectable, voters say the media is attempting to preempt accountability. By focusing on Biden’s health now, they hope to deflect attention from other previous and currently ongoing anti-Trump narratives.

Americans are discussions suspicions that the media actively shields other Democrats—especially potential 2028 candidates—from inherited blame or scrutiny. People also see Biden’s decline as symbolic of institutional rot. They say his administration, which was propped up by unseen decision-makers, along with the media’s complicity, suggests institutions cannot self-correct.

Alternative Media and the Realignment

Obliterated trust in legacy media outlets has created fertile ground for alternative platforms—Substack writers, independent podcasts, and decentralized media hubs. The audience for these outlets is growing both out of ideological alignment and necessity. Americans want information, not curated narratives.

In 2025, legacy media still clings to the idea that trust is a branding problem. However, Americans are making it clear this is a performance problem. When people feel lied to, they don’t ask for better PR—they leave.

President Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries has once again stirring global narratives around American power. A diplomatic trip is being spun by the media as a political spectacle—complete with a luxury jet from Qatar, denunciations of Western influence, and high-stakes ceasefire pressure in the Middle East. Voter sentiment began to climb with Trump’s public appearances and speech, defying how media outlets frame Trump’s foreign policy moves.

Rising Sentiment and Strategic Timing

In the last 30 days, voter sentiment toward Trump has been on an upward trajectory. MIG Reports analysis shows voter moods on tariffs, the border, and recent events like Trump’s Big Pharma EO are pushing an upward trajectory for his public sentiment.

After weeks of hovering near the 39% “critical” threshold, sentiment is consistently pushing into the 40% range, which is positive for such a divisive figure. The surge suggests Trump’s foreign relations efforts resonate with Americans, especially as Trump leaned into ceasefire negotiations, dropped sanctions on Syria, and signaled a broader break with U.S. foreign policy norms.

Supporters praise Trump for his showman style, which always seems to create maximum impact with the public and the media. In this case, people see his performance on the world stage as intentional play to recast America’s role in the world while reinforcing “America First” credibility.

Corruption or Realignment?

The gifted Qatar jet—a $400 million luxury 747 reportedly offered for Air Force One retrofit—is a public flashpoint. Critics say this is a textbook Emoluments Clause violation. Many say accepting a gift of a luxury 747 from the country that ran two 747s into the Twin Towers on 9/11 is outrageous. Others view the gesture as symbolic of Trump of selling out American sovereignty.

Trump’s defenders scoff. They say the plane is not personal property, but a state gift—no different than military partnerships or infrastructure support. They argue liberal and media anger is performative and rooted in double standards. To them, Trump is not violating laws or norms but successfully creating public attention for his administration and agenda.

For many, the Middle East trip is either the latest episode in Trump’s self-enrichment saga or a strong rejection of the post-WWII liberal order. His speech condemning “Western influence” struck a chord. Supporters heard defiance of globalism while critics heard a demagogue justifying cozying up to authoritarian regimes.

I rarely praise Trump but this is a genuinely incredible speech pic.twitter.com/1SgAtVBu3v

I've been arguing for close to a decade that the single biggest reason for the growing divide between the West and "the rest" was the West's inability to accept diversity (the genuine kind,…

— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) May 14, 2025

Congress, Media, and Institutional Paralysis

A recurring theme in online discussions is that Trump acts while Congress dithers. Many voters accuse the House of being performative, feckless, and corrupted by donor interests. In contrast, they see Trump’s unilateral moves as necessary and even virtuous.

This populist framing extends to the media. Critics accuse mainstream outlets of failing to cover the Qatar jet story honestly or downplaying ceasefire developments to avoid giving Trump credit. Supporters claim the media exists solely to frame Trump’s actions as criminal, while ignoring far more egregious behavior from others in power.

Middle East Power Plays and Global Optics

There's also discussion of Trump pushing Israel toward a ceasefire and lifting sanctions on Syria—moves voters say set him apart from Biden and the typical diplomatic playbook itself. Posts praising Trump describe him as dragging world leaders “kicking and screaming” into deals.

However, Trump’s foreign policy tactics are not universally celebrated. Critics say partnering with regimes known for sponsoring terrorism or perpetrating human rights abuses sends the wrong message.

For the most part, Americans say Trump appeared strong, decisive, and unbound by the institutional clutter that hamstrings traditional diplomacy.

Trade, Tariffs, and the Economy

Trade policy remains at the fore as voters connect Trump’s foreign travel with broader economic strategy. Public sentiment is still split. Supporters view tariff adjustments as flexible negotiations that force concessions from China and secure Middle East investment. Detractors see instability, conviction swings from the administration, higher consumer costs, and lingering consequences for small businesses.

Even so, the narrative that Trump’s deals are transactional rather than ideological resonates with his base. In this context, a Saudi-backed investment or a tariff reversal to strike a deal isn’t a betrayal. It’s leverage.

Public discourse about immigration and border security encompasses self-deportation programs to calls for mass removal without judicial review. Americans are adamant about rejecting leniency for uncompromising enforcement. Sentiment doubles down on the mandate to restore sovereignty, order, and fiscal sanity to a system many see as deliberately broken.

MIG Reports data shows, among American voters:

• 70-80% support mass deportation and strict border control
• 10-20% voice concern for due process and civil liberties
• 10% remain neutral or inject irony, often deriding both extremes

The dominant consensus is that the U.S. should enforcement first, due process later—if at all.

I’m pretty pro-Trump but tbh I can’t believe they’re deporting this guy just for being an illegal alien with an existing deportation order and several violent convictions including an arrest for rape https://t.co/F07vZj8SIQ

— Lee (Greater) (@shortmagsmle) May 11, 2025

Recent Events Fueling Discussion

Self-Deportation Executive Order

Trump's rollout of a self-deportation program, including flights and cash incentives, draws significant engagement. Many celebrate it as a clever policy trap to get illegals to leave before force is applied. Detractors call it humiliating but supporters say it’s brilliant. For both groups, self-deportation re-centers the debate and forces the opposition into a rhetorical corner.

Deporting Citizens

Liberals are discussing claims that Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee advanced a bill that would allow for the legal deportation of U.S. citizens. Most who support the administration do not take this claim seriously, accusing the media and Democrats of twisting facts. Critics say this is a dangerous trampling of citizens’ rights.

This is horrifying. Republicans voted to allow the fascist authoritarian Trump regime to deport US citizens. 2025 Trump America is 1934 Nazi Germany. There is no divergence. 😳👇 pic.twitter.com/NPXieoDLZQ

— Bill Madden (@maddenifico) May 4, 2025

ICE and Law Enforcement Clashes

Several viral posts reference federal ICE officers being obstructed by local officials and activists. Calls for arrests of mayors, judges, and members of Congress are growing in online threads, with the public increasingly siding with field agents over activists.

BREAKING: Faith Ministers are BLOCKING the entrance to the ICE Detention Center, Delaney Hall in New Jersey where Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested last week. pic.twitter.com/T5tzTewO3D

— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) May 12, 2025

Racialized Amnesty Rejections

The administration fast-tracking white Afrikaners—while other refugee programs remain suspended—also dominates debate. To supporters, it’s a correction of past bias. To critics, it’s racism in policy form. This discussion has angered moderate voices on both sides and injected an ethnic dimension into an already volatile issue.

Turns out refugees can come to America waving American flags, not storm the border waving flags of their home countries.

Welcome, Afrikaners, to The United States of America! pic.twitter.com/RpuIWT1PmS

— AbeGreenleaf (@abegreenleaf) May 12, 2025

Deportation as the Standard

Trump supporters passionately support his self-deportation program, calling it a “bombshell.” It’s a policy that resonates deeply with voters who believe the rule of law must be applied without exception and without apology.

Opposition to due process for illegal immigrants is growing. Many argue those who cross unlawfully forfeit constitutional protections, citing precedents from the Clinton and Obama years—where 75-90% of deportees received no hearings. Many say the legal system is being weaponized to delay justice and block Trump’s agenda.

Voters increasingly frame due process for illegal aliens as an open invitation to game the system. The rhetoric is uncompromising: “Deport every single one,” “No hearings,” “They don’t belong here.” These are becoming mainstream expressions of policy preference.

Refugee Politics and Racial Perception

One issue igniting online backlash is the administration’s decision to fast-track refugee status for a small number of white South Africans. While legal on paper, many see this as a racial double standard. The contrast is especially stark when compared to the treatment of Afghan, Central American, and Muslim migrants, who often face bureaucratic limbo or mass rejection.

This selective approach has triggered accusations of demographic engineering. Posts invoke the “Great Replacement” theory—not always by name, but often in spirit—arguing that immigration policy is being wielded to reshape the electorate.

Key Figures in the Administration

Tom Homan

Tom Homan generates near-universal praise on the right. He is viewed as the blueprint for serious enforcement: aggressive, unfiltered, and results driven. Supporters credit him with delivering a 98% drop in illegal crossings. His message resonates because it lacks euphemism. Homan represents decisive action in an age of executive excuses. More voters invoke his name as a symbol of national will.

TOM HOMAN ON MORNING JOE -- Not one person was vetted coming into America, now Democrats want to vet everyone we deport.pic.twitter.com/IC7IGiRGs8

— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) April 18, 2025

Stephen Miller

Stephen Miller remains the ideological center of the enforcement-first doctrine. Supporters praise him for keeping immigration rooted in sovereignty, security, and identity. They credit him with initiatives like self-deportation and suspending habeas corpus in deportation proceedings.

While critics invoke fascism and use Nazi analogies to attack him, these denunciations have the unintended effect of solidifying his credibility with a populist-right audience that sees those attacks as badges of honor.

Pam Bondi

Pam Bondi is creating controversy between the media and voters. Media reports repeat allegations surrounding her past as a foreign lobbyist for Qatar, including earning more than $100,000 per month. They say her legal justification for Trump accepting a $400 million private jet from Qatar is suspect.

Bondi’s critics accuse her of helping legitimize constitutionally dubious behavior and turning a blind eye to institutional failures in border enforcement. Critics see her perceived coziness with foreign influence and her legal maneuvers around congressional oversight as clever but corrupt.