The Reality-TV Presidency: A Dangerous New Era
The meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday will be remembered as one of the most infamous moments in White House history. Trump’s comment, “This is going to be great television,” revealed a disturbing Truth: his presidency has been shaped by the logic of reality TV. From his days on The Apprentice to his time in the White House, Trump has treated politics as a performance, casting roles based on appearance, turning policy decisions into dramatic episodes, and measuring success by ratings. This approach has blurred the lines between entertainment and governance, creating a presidency that is as much about spectacle as it is about leadership.
The concept of a “reality-TV presidency” was first suggested during Trump’s 2016 campaign, when he used his celebrity status to dominate the news cycle. But the term took on new meaning during his time in office. Reality TV thrives on ambiguity, blending fact and fiction, and treating truth as flexible. For Trump, this meant using the presidency as a stage to rewrite reality itself. His administration became a show where the line between truth and lies was constantly blurred, and where drama was leveraged to maintain power. The Oval Office was transformed into a boardroom, and diplomacy into a game of survival, with Trump as the ultimate decider.
Blurring Reality and Entertainment: A Hazardous Mix
Reality TV is inherently insular and self-rationalizing, creating its own rules and ignoring those of the outside world. This makes it entertaining but dangerous when applied to politics. Trump’s meeting with Zelensky was a prime example of this danger. By turning a private diplomatic meeting into a televised spectacle, Trump used the power of reality TV to bully an ally and reject the frameworks that had long defined U.S. foreign policy. The meeting was not just a performance; it was an exercise in unchecked power, with Trump treating Ukraine as a pawn in his larger game.
This approach to governance has profound implications. Reality TV operates on the principle of total immunity, where nothing is taken seriously and nothing is held to account. When applied to politics, this means that Trump can lie, bully, and disregard democratic norms with little consequence. His administration has weaponized misinformation, turning falsehoods into facts and treating the media as an extension of his show. By controlling the narrative, Trump has created a new reality—one where his word is law, and dissent is treated as a threat to the show.
Trump’s Reality-TV Presidency: A New Era of Power
Trump’s relationship with Fox News has been central to his reality-TV presidency. During his first term, he treated the network as a shadow press office, using its hosts as mouthpieces for his agenda. Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson became key players in his administration, shaping public opinion and amplifying his message. But in his second term, Trump has taken this relationship to a new level. He has appointed numerous Fox personalities to high-ranking positions, including Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense and Dan Bongino as deputy director of the FBI. These appointments reflect Trump’s belief that loyalty and personality are more important than qualifications.
The result is a presidency that operates like a reality show, with Trump as the executive producer. He has replaced independent press coverage with handpicked loyalists, silencing dissent and eroding press freedom. The media is no longer a check on power but a tool for advancing his narrative. Trump’s latest move to control the press pool covering the White House is a stark example of this. By selecting only loyalist journalists, he has turned the media into an extension of his show, ensuring that his version of reality dominates the airwaves.
The Dangers of Reality Politics
The dangers of reality politics were on full display during Trump’s meeting with Zelensky. The meeting was staged for the cameras, with Trump using the occasion to bully Ukraine and promote his own narrative. His claim that Zelensky was “disrespectful” for litigating the issue in front of the media was a classic reality-TV tactic, shifting blame and controlling the story. The press, meanwhile, was reduced to asking trivial questions, such as Zelensky’s outfit, rather than holding Trump accountable for his actions.
This is the insidious power of reality TV: it creates a world where truth no longer matters, and where the only thing that counts is whether the show is entertaining. Trump’s presidency has brought this logic to democracy, treating the U.S. government as a stage and its citizens as an audience. The result is a system where power is unchecked, accountability is nonexistent, and the very foundations of democracy are under threat.
The Collapse of Democratic Guardrails
Trump’s reality-TV presidency has also brought about the collapse of democratic guardrails. During his first term, there were still checks on his power, from lawyers and generals to reporters and lawmakers. But in his second term, Trump has abandoned even the pretense of respecting these institutions. He has replaced independent officials with loyalists, silenced dissent, and treated the media as an extension of his show. The result is a government that operates outside the bounds of democratic norms, with Trump as the ultimate authority.
This has created a crisis for democracy. Trump’s appointment of Dan Bongino as deputy director of the FBI is a stark example of this. Bongino, a Fox contributor and conspiracy theorist, is unqualified for the role but loyal to Trump. His appointment reflects the president’s belief that loyalty is the only qualification that matters. It also underscores the dangers of a government that operates according to the logic of reality TV, where truth is irrelevant and power is unchecked.
An Emergency for Democracy
The meeting with Zelensky was more than just a bad moment for Trump. It was a sign of a larger emergency for democracy. Trump’s reality-TV presidency has brought about a world where truth is irrelevant, power is unchecked, and the media is complicit in advancing his narrative. The result is a government that operates like a dictatorship, with Trump as the ultimate authority.
This is not just a crisis for the U.S. but for the world. Trump’s actions have undermined global stability, eroded trust in institutions, and created a world where reality itself is under threat. The meeting with Zelensky was a stark reminder of the dangers of reality politics, where the only thing that matters is whether the show is entertaining. For democracy to survive, this must change. Trump’s reality-TV presidency is not just a show; it is a threat to the very foundations of democracy.