Why do some otherwise intelligent, rational people seem almost hypnotized by a deep-seated hatred for Donald Trump, unable to acknowledge his victories or his successes? Have they been caught in an establishment-driven media war on Trump, a war waged because he dared to “drain the swamp” and challenge entrenched power structures? Has this relentless narrative created a culture of cognitive dissonance, where people reject Trump’s accomplishments and cling to negative caricatures crafted by an establishment that feels threatened?
Think about it: since his announcement as a presidential candidate, Trump has been met with a storm of media hostility. Unlike any political figure in recent history, he has endured an onslaught of coverage designed to delegitimize, demonize, and distort his image. This isn’t just skepticism or criticism—it’s a full-blown campaign. Over 90% of the major news outlets covered Trump negatively, according to studies by the Media Research Center and the Pew Research Center. Every misstep, real or alleged, has been amplified, while his successes are often buried or minimized. And this approach has had its intended effect.
Psychologically, repetition is powerful. When you hear the same narrative day in and day out—Trump is a danger, Trump is unfit, Trump is corrupt—it becomes ingrained in your worldview. Many people, even those who would otherwise take a balanced perspective, find it nearly impossible to view him in any other light. They’ve been conditioned, and often, they don’t even realize it. This phenomenon, coined as “Trump Derangement Syndrome” (TDS), reflects a visceral reaction driven not by facts, but by relentless repetition of demonizing narratives.
Now, consider the establishment’s vested interest. Trump’s “drain the swamp” message challenged the very foundations of Washington’s power structure—the corporate lobbies, career politicians, and intelligence bureaucracies that hold immense sway over U.S. policy. These forces have connections with mainstream media, with both sharing a common interest in maintaining the status quo. With Trump, they saw an outsider, unpredictable and uncontrollable. Is it any surprise that their response was to mount an all-out assault on his character and policies?
But here’s the dangerous part: this establishment-driven media warfare risks tearing the United States apart. When the media paints a leader as almost villainous, it creates a culture of division that’s hard to bridge. Some people have become so convinced of Trump’s unworthiness that they’d rather see a relatively unknown, untested figure like Kamala Harris step in—simply because the media hasn’t vilified her. And this isn’t about ideology; it’s about conditioning. They’ve been “mind-controlled,” conditioned to hate a version of Trump shaped by media narratives, not by the reality of his policies or achievements.
The consequences of this could be dire. When half the country is made to despise a figure that the other half respects, the social fabric begins to unravel. People begin to question each other’s motives, to doubt their neighbor’s patriotism. And when that kind of division becomes widespread, it undermines the very unity that has made the American empire strong. The American system has thrived on the principle of checks and balances, on differing views united by a common purpose. But with such extreme polarization, where a significant portion of the public has been conditioned to despise a leader, that unity fractures.
The risk here is not just the damage to Trump’s reputation but the erosion of faith in institutions, media, and even democracy itself. If this continues, the American empire may indeed fade, not because of any external threat, but due to internal division fueled by a media machine that has been allowed to set the agenda unchecked.
Duruebube Hon. Chimazuru Nnadi-Oforgu
Ndukaku III of Ihiagwa
OBLONG MEDIA UNLIMITED 
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