By Charles Switzer
2:36am PDT, Apr 25, 2025
Abby Phillip Criticizes Trump's 'Sycophantic' Media Allies
On the Tuesday, April 22, edition of
CNN NewsNight, anchor
Abby Phillip took aim at President
Donald Trump's media allies, dubbing them "sycophantic" after showcasing clips of pro-MAGA White House reporters.
The segment, which included a panel of experts such as conservative commentator
Scott Jennings, as well as
Xochitl Hinojosa, Shermichael Singleton and
Chuck Rocha,
centered around the recent resignation of longtime
60 Minutes executive producer
Bill Owens and Trump's pressure campaign against media outlets that do not align with his views.
Read on to find out who made Phillip's MAGA-loving list.
MORE:
Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more top news
Trump's Influence on the Media Landscape
Abby Phillip discussed the broader implications of Donald Trump's approach to media, suggesting that his goal is not to promote a fair and balanced narrative but rather one that is aligned with his administration's interests.
She pointed out that Trump's rhetoric has been a driving force behind the erosion of trust in the media: "A lot of this is driven by the rhetoric on your side of the aisle," Phillip told Scott Jennings.
The Rise of Pro-Trump 'Sycophantic' Media
Abby Phillip then highlighted the nature of the reporters invited to the White House.
She argued that these reporters' behavior reflects Donald Trump's desire to surround himself with media that offers
unquestioning support.
"Is it to have media that is in the middle, that is fair? Here is just a sampling of what has been happening at the White House as Trump has — he's entitled to do this, but invited very sycophantic media into the White House," she stated before playing video clips of some of these reporters in action.
Video Clips Showcase Trump's Media Allies
The video clip featured reporters asking overly flattering and bizarre questions of Donald Trump, such as Brian Glenn from Real America's Voice commenting on the president's choice of attire, Cara Castronova from LindellTV praising Trump's fitness and Mike Carter from Newsmax promoting a sensational story involving a Democrat.
Trump was shown reacting positively, saying, "I like this guy. See now, this is — this is the kind of a reporter we like."
These examples, Phillip argued, demonstrate the kind of compliant media Trump is courting.
Panel Discussion on Trump's Media Strategy
Abby Phillip's comments were met with a response from Scott Jennings, who acknowledged that no politician, including Donald Trump, wants to be
treated unfairly by the media.
However, he noted, "No politician, no president — Democrat or Republican — wants to be pilloried every day, and all of them believe they're being treated unfairly, and they all want to be treated better than they think they're being treated. That's true for all of them."
Jennings' comments highlighted the universal desire among political figures to control their media image, though Phillip maintained that Trump's approach is uniquely focused on building an extremely loyal media base.
