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Opinion

Opinion | Donald Trump and the day of the hound

It was William Shakespeare who, in his famous Play, Hamlet, written nearly 500 years ago that popularized the phrase “every dog has his day.” I cannot think of a better timely event that fits its usage than this moment when newshounds in the United States of America laughed last on November 3, the day that the Americans went to the polls to elect a new president.

Since he came to office four years ago, President Donald Trump has taken on virtually every media in the country, except for Fox News, a conservative 24 hour news channel owned by the Autralian-born, naturalized American, Rupert Murdoch.

The Fox cable network is the youngest among leading US news channels that was established only 24 years ago in 1996, compared to the major, dominant and respectable news channels like the ABC, CBS and NBC. Even CNN is at least a decade older than Fox News.

The outgoing US President cursed, attacked and hurled insults on reporters at the slightest excuse throughout his tenure. Some embedded White House correspondents were at various times blocked by aides from doing their jobs. Mr Trump’s unhealthy relationship with the media is unprecedented.

All this may however become history by January 20, 2020 when President-elect Joe Biden would have been sworn in. To the American press, it will certainly be back to normal after four years of endurance with a leader whose tumultous actions towards them and outbust is unpredictable, but who they must protect in their reportage for the sake of country and democracy.

As a journalist, though recently non-active, I felt their pain and predecament because of their handicap by choice not to be too harsh on him to the extent of ridiculing the biggest and probably the most respectable office in the world – the Office of the president of the United States of America.

Mr Trump would have had no better powerful ally than the press at this crucial time when he has been running from pillar to post trying to overturn Biden’s victory. Imagine if he were to have the support of the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN and a host more super press. In short, every dog has its day. They would have been his foot soldiers drumming support and moulnding public opinion in his favour.

I doff my hat to the US media and feel elated that they finally had their day.

Iyawa is Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Mexico

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