US President Donald Trump is a master of asymmetric warfare. By consistently flouting conventions of truth and honesty, he gains an immediate advantage over those who try to hold him accountable. This asymmetry has already taken a toll on the US democratic system.
For instance, in his first term, Trump made over 30,000 false or misleading statements, averaging around 21 per day. In one interview with CBS's 60 Minutes this month, he lied 18 times. As a result, those who criticize him are expected to be truthful themselves, rendering them vulnerable to accusations of dishonesty.
This is why the BBC's recent Panorama programme, which examined Trump's record ahead of the 2024 election, was found to contain a deceptive edit. The programme stitched together two statements made by Trump over 54 minutes apart to create a single call for violence, without being truthful about its own methods. This raises concerns about intellectual and journalistic integrity.
Trump's disregard for truth is not unique in his own right, but it does set him apart from others who try to criticize him. In contrast, fact-checkers must be meticulous and provide impeccable evidence, lest they be seen as dishonest themselves.
The consequences of Trump's actions are far-reaching. His enemies may have nothing to lose by criticizing him, but those who defend the truth do so at a cost. This is why some of the most committed supporters of the BBC feel compelled to address internal bias issues raised in recent reports.
Trump's advantage lies in his willingness to disregard public good for political gain. He would not have ended the US federal government shutdown without provoking economic pain and risks to Americans' safety, simply to win an election.
However, there is one area where Trump appears constrained by traditional standards of truth: the Epstein scandal. New documents suggest that Trump may have known more about Jeffrey Epstein's abuse patterns than he has admitted. This revelation threatens to shake confidence in Trump among his most ardent supporters, who were initially drawn to him by conspiracy theories about a secret elite cabal.
The White House is now working to prevent the full release of the justice department's Epstein files from coming up for a vote in the US House of Representatives, fearing that this would further erode support for Trump among his base. This highlights the one area where Trump's lack of shame could potentially be his downfall: the Epstein scandal.
In conclusion, as long as Trump enjoys an advantage by disregarding truth, he will remain unbeatable to those who defend it. However, there is a single battlefield – the Epstein scandal – where his actions have lost him ground among his most loyal supporters. This asymmetry may ultimately prove his undoing.
For instance, in his first term, Trump made over 30,000 false or misleading statements, averaging around 21 per day. In one interview with CBS's 60 Minutes this month, he lied 18 times. As a result, those who criticize him are expected to be truthful themselves, rendering them vulnerable to accusations of dishonesty.
This is why the BBC's recent Panorama programme, which examined Trump's record ahead of the 2024 election, was found to contain a deceptive edit. The programme stitched together two statements made by Trump over 54 minutes apart to create a single call for violence, without being truthful about its own methods. This raises concerns about intellectual and journalistic integrity.
Trump's disregard for truth is not unique in his own right, but it does set him apart from others who try to criticize him. In contrast, fact-checkers must be meticulous and provide impeccable evidence, lest they be seen as dishonest themselves.
The consequences of Trump's actions are far-reaching. His enemies may have nothing to lose by criticizing him, but those who defend the truth do so at a cost. This is why some of the most committed supporters of the BBC feel compelled to address internal bias issues raised in recent reports.
Trump's advantage lies in his willingness to disregard public good for political gain. He would not have ended the US federal government shutdown without provoking economic pain and risks to Americans' safety, simply to win an election.
However, there is one area where Trump appears constrained by traditional standards of truth: the Epstein scandal. New documents suggest that Trump may have known more about Jeffrey Epstein's abuse patterns than he has admitted. This revelation threatens to shake confidence in Trump among his most ardent supporters, who were initially drawn to him by conspiracy theories about a secret elite cabal.
The White House is now working to prevent the full release of the justice department's Epstein files from coming up for a vote in the US House of Representatives, fearing that this would further erode support for Trump among his base. This highlights the one area where Trump's lack of shame could potentially be his downfall: the Epstein scandal.
In conclusion, as long as Trump enjoys an advantage by disregarding truth, he will remain unbeatable to those who defend it. However, there is a single battlefield – the Epstein scandal – where his actions have lost him ground among his most loyal supporters. This asymmetry may ultimately prove his undoing.
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he knows exactly how to play on ppl's emotions and turn it into fuel for his own advantage 
its crazy how much false info hes spewed out there 30k+ lies in one term alone 
thats just insane
. Trump may have an advantage in terms of playing the "truth is whatever I say it is" game, but that doesn't mean its a healthy or sustainable way to govern.
I mean, come on... Trump's ability to game the truth-telling system is literally insane. 30k+ false statements in one term? That's like saying he has a Ph.D. in BS 
. And now the BBC tries to do a fact-check and they end up getting caught in their own web of deceit 
. It's like they say, "the devil is in the details"... or in this case, the devil is in the edited clips 
.
At least he's consistent, right? 
.
- it's a total mess.
. If more people find out about what he knew or didn't know, that could really hurt him with his base supporters 
. The White House is trying to keep this under wraps but I think it's only a matter of time before it all comes out and Trump loses some of that support 
.