Donald Trump’s political style—built on outrage, mythmaking, and promotion—was honed decades before his presidency. Jonathan Mahler argues it was the tabloid wars of 1980s New York that forged these tactics, shaping Trump into the “personification of 1980s excess.”

The Trump administration is honing its media strategy by focusing on the 8 a.m. hour of a Fox News program, aiming to reach both MAGA loyalists and the President himself. This approach underscores the unique relationship between the administration and the media outlet.