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A Moment on Television When Silence Told the Story A Moment on Television When Silence Told the Story
(35 minutes later)
When the moment arrived, at high noon, even the frenetic world of television news paused to take notice.When the moment arrived, at high noon, even the frenetic world of television news paused to take notice.
Gone were the screaming graphics and endless crawl of headlines. Countdown clocks vanished. Why compete with the sheer drama of what was unfolding in real time on screen, the oath of President Donald J. Trump?Gone were the screaming graphics and endless crawl of headlines. Countdown clocks vanished. Why compete with the sheer drama of what was unfolding in real time on screen, the oath of President Donald J. Trump?
“If we go silent from time to time, we’re just doing what you’re doing,” Brian Williams, leading the coverage on MSNBC, told viewers on Friday morning. “It’s a lot to take in.”“If we go silent from time to time, we’re just doing what you’re doing,” Brian Williams, leading the coverage on MSNBC, told viewers on Friday morning. “It’s a lot to take in.”
Earlier, the news networks had gawked at images of Hillary Clinton entering the United States Capitol, speculating about her emotions — “That’s not the smile of a woman who’s happy to be here right now,” observed Cecilia Vega of ABC News — and soaking in the day’s Shakespearean themes.Earlier, the news networks had gawked at images of Hillary Clinton entering the United States Capitol, speculating about her emotions — “That’s not the smile of a woman who’s happy to be here right now,” observed Cecilia Vega of ABC News — and soaking in the day’s Shakespearean themes.
“The two men who denied her the presidency in one car,” intoned John King on CNN, as a limousine carrying Mr. Trump and Barack Obama glided away from the White House.“The two men who denied her the presidency in one car,” intoned John King on CNN, as a limousine carrying Mr. Trump and Barack Obama glided away from the White House.
There were interviews with Trump supporters on the Capitol grounds, with Katy Tur of MSNBC pressing an Oregon woman on what, specifically, she was optimistic about (“keeping the Supreme Court the way it is”). Ed Henry of Fox News, in a jaunty hat, giggled with a 9-year-old in a “Make America Great Again” cap (“it’s really cool”).There were interviews with Trump supporters on the Capitol grounds, with Katy Tur of MSNBC pressing an Oregon woman on what, specifically, she was optimistic about (“keeping the Supreme Court the way it is”). Ed Henry of Fox News, in a jaunty hat, giggled with a 9-year-old in a “Make America Great Again” cap (“it’s really cool”).
But if cable news was relatively predictable in its tonal divides — MSNBC remarking, again and again, on the lackluster size of the crowd; Fox News airing a rah-rah video about Mr. Trump’s victory with a patriotic soundtrack — the major networks were remarkably united in their astonishment at the president’s unorthodox inaugural address.But if cable news was relatively predictable in its tonal divides — MSNBC remarking, again and again, on the lackluster size of the crowd; Fox News airing a rah-rah video about Mr. Trump’s victory with a patriotic soundtrack — the major networks were remarkably united in their astonishment at the president’s unorthodox inaugural address.
“One of the most radical inaugural speeches we’ve ever heard,” marveled Jake Tapper of CNN.“One of the most radical inaugural speeches we’ve ever heard,” marveled Jake Tapper of CNN.
“It felt as if he almost was insulting every living president that was sitting next to him in very personal ways,” said Chuck Todd on NBC.“It felt as if he almost was insulting every living president that was sitting next to him in very personal ways,” said Chuck Todd on NBC.
Even Brit Hume, one of Fox News’s stalwart conservatives, ventured a measured account. “Not poetic, but quite strong,” Mr. Hume said. “Very much Trump.”Even Brit Hume, one of Fox News’s stalwart conservatives, ventured a measured account. “Not poetic, but quite strong,” Mr. Hume said. “Very much Trump.”
Mr. Williams of MSNBC, who was back in the anchor’s chair on Friday after some time in the wilderness, acquitted himself with the wit, perspective and understated demeanor that he has honed over years as a broadcaster.Mr. Williams of MSNBC, who was back in the anchor’s chair on Friday after some time in the wilderness, acquitted himself with the wit, perspective and understated demeanor that he has honed over years as a broadcaster.
After Mr. Trump finished his remarks, as the cameras panned away from the Capitol and the crowds began to disperse, Mr. Williams’s baritone voice provided a pithy and nonpartisan summary, invoking John F. Kennedy as a historical marker and suggesting that Mr. Trump’s address was a striking reminder of just how much the country has changed.After Mr. Trump finished his remarks, as the cameras panned away from the Capitol and the crowds began to disperse, Mr. Williams’s baritone voice provided a pithy and nonpartisan summary, invoking John F. Kennedy as a historical marker and suggesting that Mr. Trump’s address was a striking reminder of just how much the country has changed.
“A speech that in 1961 gave us ‘Ask not,’” Mr. Williams said. “Today, gave us ‘American carnage.’”“A speech that in 1961 gave us ‘Ask not,’” Mr. Williams said. “Today, gave us ‘American carnage.’”
On election night in November, Chris Wallace of Fox News was among the first anchors to announce that Donald J. Trump had a realistic shot at victory.
On Friday, Mr. Wallace beat his competition once again — reporting the thrust of Mr. Trump’s inaugural address nearly an hour before the newly sworn-in president delivered it.
“I’ve gotten a unique readout on this speech,” Mr. Wallace told Fox’s viewers a few minutes after 11 a.m. He reported that Mr. Trump had reviewed every inaugural address since World War II, and that he was primarily influenced by the words of John F. Kennedy in 1961 and Ronald Reagan in 1981 — in particular, Mr. Reagan’s exhortation that “government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.”
Mr. Wallace previewed Mr. Trump’s language about a “forgotten” America that felt left behind by the previous administration. Afterward, he offered this on-air analysis:
“This was not about the transfer of power — this was about Donald Trump seizing power in the sense that there is a new sheriff in town,” Mr. Wallace said. “This was the speech of an insurgent, the leader of a revolt who has taken control in Washington.”
Just minutes before Donald J. Trump was to be sworn is as president, news publications reflected the country’s great division.Just minutes before Donald J. Trump was to be sworn is as president, news publications reflected the country’s great division.
“Winter Comes” The Huffington Post, the left-leaning site founded by Arianna Huffington, blared in all capital letters.“Winter Comes” The Huffington Post, the left-leaning site founded by Arianna Huffington, blared in all capital letters.
“Yes, this is really happening,” BuzzFeed said briefly on its home page, in the lower right corner of its live video of the inauguration.“Yes, this is really happening,” BuzzFeed said briefly on its home page, in the lower right corner of its live video of the inauguration.
By contrast, The Drudge Report, the conservative website known for its flashy headlines, struck a more optimistic tone with the headline, “It All Begins Today.” Later that was updated to “America Again!”By contrast, The Drudge Report, the conservative website known for its flashy headlines, struck a more optimistic tone with the headline, “It All Begins Today.” Later that was updated to “America Again!”
Headlines on other news websites were not quite as partisan. “New era begins as Trump set to take oath,” The Washington Post said. The Wall Street Journal went with “Trump Set to Take Reins of Power.” The New York Times chose: “Trump’s Inauguration Day Caps a Remarkable Rise to Power.”Headlines on other news websites were not quite as partisan. “New era begins as Trump set to take oath,” The Washington Post said. The Wall Street Journal went with “Trump Set to Take Reins of Power.” The New York Times chose: “Trump’s Inauguration Day Caps a Remarkable Rise to Power.”
Breitbart, the right-wing website that embraced Mr. Trump during the election campaign, was, perhaps surprisingly, the most subdued, initially going with the blandly factual “The Inauguration of President Donald Trump.”Breitbart, the right-wing website that embraced Mr. Trump during the election campaign, was, perhaps surprisingly, the most subdued, initially going with the blandly factual “The Inauguration of President Donald Trump.”
On RT, the state-funded Russian television network that broadcasts in English, the inauguration coverage generally portrayed Mr. Trump favorably and in some cases parroted his talking points. There was some discussion, for instance, on how the mainstream media had tried to influence the outcome of the election, and being generally anti-Trump. One of the reporters in Washington said, “the swagger and aggression that we see in Donald Trump is met by the media [covering him] in a lot of cases.”On RT, the state-funded Russian television network that broadcasts in English, the inauguration coverage generally portrayed Mr. Trump favorably and in some cases parroted his talking points. There was some discussion, for instance, on how the mainstream media had tried to influence the outcome of the election, and being generally anti-Trump. One of the reporters in Washington said, “the swagger and aggression that we see in Donald Trump is met by the media [covering him] in a lot of cases.”
The coverage did have its moments of balance, though. Ed Schultz, the former MSNBC anchor who handled the main inaugural coverage Friday, said Mr. Trump was unpredictable and inconsistent. Larry King called him thin-skinned.The coverage did have its moments of balance, though. Ed Schultz, the former MSNBC anchor who handled the main inaugural coverage Friday, said Mr. Trump was unpredictable and inconsistent. Larry King called him thin-skinned.
The most distinct part about the whole special was its obvious pro-Russia bent. Alexey Yaroshevsky delivered a long investigative report aimed at refuting the idea that Russia hacked the Democratic National Committee and may have influenced the election. Mr. Schultz said that in the end, Russia could not be associated with the outcome because “the Russians did not tell Hillary Clinton not to go to Michigan or Wisconsin to campaign.”The most distinct part about the whole special was its obvious pro-Russia bent. Alexey Yaroshevsky delivered a long investigative report aimed at refuting the idea that Russia hacked the Democratic National Committee and may have influenced the election. Mr. Schultz said that in the end, Russia could not be associated with the outcome because “the Russians did not tell Hillary Clinton not to go to Michigan or Wisconsin to campaign.”
Minutes before Mr. Trump took the oath, Fox News announced that Nigel Farage, the right-wing populist British leader, would join the network as a paid on-air contributor. The move provides an unlikely American megaphone for Mr. Farage, a chief architect of the campaign in Britain to leave the European Union and a friend of Mr. Trump, who can now command the audience of the country’s most-watched cable-news network.Minutes before Mr. Trump took the oath, Fox News announced that Nigel Farage, the right-wing populist British leader, would join the network as a paid on-air contributor. The move provides an unlikely American megaphone for Mr. Farage, a chief architect of the campaign in Britain to leave the European Union and a friend of Mr. Trump, who can now command the audience of the country’s most-watched cable-news network.
Mr. Farage, the former head of the United Kingdom Independence Party, is one of Europe’s leading proponents of nationalism, and his appointment comes in a year of critical elections in Europe where right-wing groups are mounting significant bids for power.Mr. Farage, the former head of the United Kingdom Independence Party, is one of Europe’s leading proponents of nationalism, and his appointment comes in a year of critical elections in Europe where right-wing groups are mounting significant bids for power.
It also showcases the extent to which Fox News has become an increasingly friendly venue for Mr. Trump and his circle, with stars like Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly offering daily affirmations for the new president. The network brought on Steve Hilton, another leading proponent of the so-called Brexit, as a contributor last month.It also showcases the extent to which Fox News has become an increasingly friendly venue for Mr. Trump and his circle, with stars like Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly offering daily affirmations for the new president. The network brought on Steve Hilton, another leading proponent of the so-called Brexit, as a contributor last month.