Trump Rallies in Nebraska, Blasts Media as GOP Faces Tight Races Nationwide
President Donald Trump took his midterm campaign pitch to Nebraska Monday night, but instead of focusing solely on Republican candidates, he spent much of his rally railing against the media, calling out outlets like MS NOW and The New York Times for what he described as unfair coverage.
Speaking to a packed crowd at the Nebraska State Fairgrounds in Grand Island, Trump told supporters, “We need a fair media. We have some great people in the media, but we have some really terrible ones too. They’ve tried to smear us, to slander us, to persecute us, and demoralize us.”
The rally comes as Republicans face unexpectedly tight races in states they typically win, with new polls showing Democrats leading in Texas, Alaska, and Ohio, and a dead heat in Kansas.
Trump Escalates War on Media
Trump has intensified his attacks on mainstream media during his second term, particularly targeting female reporters who question him on sensitive topics like the Epstein files and the Iran war. Last month, his administration barred CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from White House events, labeling them “fake news.”
The outlets sued, citing First Amendment violations, and a federal judge temporarily ordered the reinstatement of their press badges. Despite that ruling, the White House blocked Politico from traveling on Air Force One Monday.
A White House spokesperson told The Independent that Air Force One travel is “a privilege not a right” and defended Trump as “the most accessible President in American history.”
Trump Highlights Economic Wins, Critics Point to Rising Costs
At the rally, Trump touted record economic numbers, including the highest median household income ever recorded. “Our nation is doing better now than it’s ever done before...But the fake news media refuses to talk about our record-setting numbers,” he said.
However, new Census Bureau data comes alongside rising costs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports food prices up 2.7 percent year-over-year in August, and energy costs up 16.3 percent, largely driven by the ongoing war in Iran.
Trump’s approval rating has slipped to 32 percent, with 65 percent disapproving, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. The war and an aggressive immigration crackdown are cited as key factors.
Trump Coins New Insult: ‘Artificial Media’
Later in the rally, Trump debuted a new nickname for the press, calling them “artificial media.” He explained, “I said, ‘The word ‘artificial’ is an ugly word.’ I said, ‘Wait a minute, it pertains to the media. Artificial media.’ So now we have two names: fake news and artificial media.”
The comment came after Trump raged on Truth Social about a New York Times report noting empty seats at his rallies. He called for journalists to be “arrested” for their “dishonesty and disservice to our Country.”
GOP Faces Uphill Battles in Key States
Trump repeated his familiar plea, “Pretend I’m on the ballot,” but his endorsements may not be enough to carry struggling candidates. New York Times/Siena College polls show Democrat James Talarico leading Republican Ken Paxton 51-45 in Texas, Democrat Mary Peltola ahead of Republican Dan Sullivan 50-43 in Alaska, and Democrat Sherrod Brown leading Republican Jon Husted 49-46 in Ohio.
In Iowa, Republican Ashley Hinson leads Democrat Josh Turek 48-47, a closer margin than expected in the Hawkeye State. Kansas shows a tie between Democrat Adam Hamilton and Republican Roger Marshall at 45 percent.
Trump dismissed the polls, telling the crowd, “The fake news media is trying to demoralize Republican voters with rigged polls, but as you can see here tonight, our movement is the strongest it’s ever been in the history of our country.”
With Election Day approaching, Republicans are banking on Trump’s base to turn out, even as independent voters appear to be drifting toward Democrats in several battleground states.