On February 25, Donald Trump's administration announced that she would be the 1 to decide who journalists would have access to the president of the United States — previously done so by the Independent White home Correspondents Association. The American journalistic community is tense about this change, as well as many another activities by Trump and its surroundings.
Baker stresses that comparisons between Russia and the United States can easy go besides far. Both countries, including their political and journalistic systems, are very different. However, if we pay attention not to the form, but to the essence of what Trump is trying to achieve, the similarities with what Putin was doing at the beginning of his regulation become very noticeable.
“Please don’t quote me, I’m just scared”
— For me, 1 of the most striking things is trying to get people to talk about Trump, says Baker. He cites examples of people who refuse to talk like that: “Please don’t quote me, I can’t afford to be on their list”; “Please, don’t quote me, I have a boy in civilian service”, “Please, don’t quote me, I’m just scared.”
In Russian media, anonymous sources have long become the norm – that is due to the fact that otherwise very fewer people would dare to talk to journalists. In the United States, this is inactive an exception alternatively than a rule, but from what Baker says, the situation is changing.
— erstwhile I came to Russia, everyone was rather open to us, including the issue of expressing views different from those of the government. erstwhile I left, people who had spoken freely did not. They were scared. This is something I never expected to see in Washington. “The writer admits. Baker believes that Trump's media strategy aims at "encouraging people to think twice before they speak".
— all president complains about the press corps, says Baker. “Every president thinks the press is unfair, biased and so on. Trump does not simply say, “I am angry at The fresh York Times and I think their articles are terrible.” Trump says, “Media is false,” in another words, “enemies of the people,” says the journalist.
In his opinion, Trump's squad deliberately discredits the independent press as specified – that is, trying to repeat what Putin's squad did in Russia in 2000 and especially in 2010.
The desire to control the media
Another similarity Baker points out is The desire to control key media resources through their owners. In Russia in 2000, it was television; in the modern United States it is social media.
“ erstwhile Putin came to power, the first thing he did was to make a deal with the oligarchs: you will keep your money if you are loyal to me,” Baker recalls. This was followed by the takeover of NTV tv by the state, the expulsion from the country of Vladimir Gusinski and Boris Bieriezowski — oligarchs, especially media owners, were made clear what would happen if they did not accept the agreement.
Baker thinks Trump wants to make a akin deal with U.S. media owners and social networks. The president sued ABC and CBS television, threatened with the lawsuits "The fresh York Times". CBS and PBS are under audit. 1 of the most crucial media platforms, X (formerly Twitter), is controlled by Trump's ally, Elon Musk.
Owner Meta (Facebook, Instagram) Mark Zuckerberg agreed with Trump's wishes — and resigned from independent verification of facts on its platforms.
EPA/JIM LO SCALZO / POOL / PAPU.S. president Donald Trump during a gathering with the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenski in the Oval Office of the White home in Washington, D.C., on 28 February 2025.
At the same time, as Baker notes, Russia “failed to become part of the discourse.” The Russian propaganda version of what is happening in the planet has penetrated and gained a foothold in the American information space — not as the only 1 or even the main one, but as worthy of attention and discussion.
Need for a show
Finally, 1 more resemblance. Trump loves to do a show. Among another reasons, quarrels between him and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenski In the Oval Office. By accepting abroad leaders, is not limited to a short protocol session, as is usually the case in specified cases. Negotiations begin in the presence of journalists. As a result, an altercation that could have occurred behind closed doors if standard protocol had been followed was in front of the cameras.
Putin besides publically humiliates others from time to time. According to Baker, what happened at the gathering at the Oval Office happened alternatively by accident — but the effect was the same.
