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A Moment on Television When Silence Told the Story On TV, Astonishment and Awe at an Inaugural Like No Other
(about 5 hours 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, countdown clocks, and endless crawl of headlines. 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. 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 address.
“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”).
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.
“He basically took the hide off everybody,” said Bob Schieffer on CBS.
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. 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.
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, who declared the proceedings “really cool.”
Later, the coverage turned more tense as scattered protests broke out in Washington. A Fox News reporter, Griff Jenkins, was jostled by the police while on-air, shouting “We’re media!” to avoid arrest.
Mr. Williams of MSNBC, back in the anchor’s chair this past year after some time in the wilderness, stood out with the understated demeanor 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 the early 1960s 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 election night in November, Chris Wallace of Fox News was among the first anchors to recognize that Mr. 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. On Friday, Mr. Wallace beat his competition again, reporting the thrust of Mr. Trump’s inaugural address nearly an hour before it was delivered.
“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.” “I’ve gotten a unique readout on this speech,” Mr. Wallace told Fox viewers. He reported that Mr. Trump had reviewed every inaugural address since World War II, and had been 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: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.”“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. A phrase in President Trump’s heavily populist speech mimicked a speech delivered by Bane, the super villain played by Tom Hardy in the Batman film “The Dark Knight Rises.”
“Winter Comes” The Huffington Post, the left-leaning site founded by Arianna Huffington, blared in all capital letters. You better believe the internet noticed.
“Yes, this is really happening,” BuzzFeed said briefly on its home page, in the lower right corner of its live video of the inauguration. A tweet from @Bubbaprog comparing video of the words spoken by both Mr. Trump and Bane was retweeted tens of thousands of times on Friday, with the wording — “give it back to you, the people” — trending widely on Facebook in the United States.
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!” It was only one of a cavalcade of memes that surfaced on social media almost as soon as the day’s events kicked off.
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.” Snapshots of former first lady Michelle Obama’s unamused “side-eye” expression at the inauguration went viral, complete with side-by-side comparisons to characters from the sitcom “The Office.”
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 Reddit, elated supporters of Mr. Trump congregated on a message board named “The_Donald,” and circulated photos of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton with the gleeful caption, “not my president.”
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.” By late afternoon, more than 12 million tweets related to the inauguration had been sent, according to Twitter, with a peak of 58,000 tweets sent per minute at noon. MIKE ISAAC
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. Divided country, divided news media on the internet.
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.” “Winter Comes,” blared The Huffington Post, the left-leaning site founded by Arianna Huffington, minutes before President Trump took the oath of office.
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. By contrast, the conservative Drudge Report struck a more optimistic tone with the headline, “It All Begins Today” — later updated to the more euphoric “America Again!”
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. BuzzFeed briefly went with a millennial-friendly “Yes, this is really happening” with a live video of the inauguration. As the day wore on, The Huffington Post grew grimmer. “Grave New World,” the site announced.
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. Breitbart, the right-wing website that embraced Mr. Trump during the election campaign, was, perhaps surprisingly, the most subdued, opting for the blandly factual “The Inauguration of President Donald Trump.”
After the swearing-in, though, Breitbart got more pointed: “It Begins: President Trump.” The site also posted the headline “45 Thumps Establishment Elite in 1st Inaugural Address,” a not-so-subtle suggestion that Mr. Trump would someday deliver a second one. SYDNEY EMBER
On RT, the state-funded Russian network that broadcasts in English, the inauguration coverage generally portrayed Mr. Trump favorably and in some cases parroted his talking points. There was discussion, for instance, about how the mainstream news media had tried to sway the election for the Democrats.
The coverage did have moments of balance. Ed Schultz, the former MSNBC anchor who handled the main inaugural coverage on Friday, said Mr. Trump was unpredictable and inconsistent. Larry King — who later tweeted that protesters in Washington had smashed the windows of his hired car — called him thin-skinned.
But the most distinct part of the broadcast was its clear pro-Russian bent. Alexey Yaroshevsky delivered a long investigative report aimed at refuting the idea that Russia had hacked the Democratic National Committee and may have influenced the election. In the end, Mr. Schultz said, 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.” ZACH WICHTER