New developments in former President Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial have far-right commentators leaping to cover the case they once treated only as a joke, spurring a mass migration of Republican lawmakers from Washington to New York City, a media analyst says.
Brian Stelter appeared on MSNBC Tuesday night to discuss the ongoing trial after a pack of Republican senators joined Trump in the Manhattan criminal courthouse where Michael Cohen delivered his blockbuster testimony.
"At the outset of the trial, the far-right media outlets that Trump voters trust tried to ignore the trial," Stelter said. "There's been this very belated realization that they can't just pretend like this is not going on."
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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has charged Trump with falsifying business records to conceal hush money paid, with help from Cohen, to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Trump pleaded not guilty to charges and has summoned top Republican officials such as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to Manhattan to give speeches in the former president's defense.
This move surprised anchor Ari Melber.
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"They're here because they clearly feel they owe Trump that," Melber said. "But why attract attention to the trial?"
Stelter argued those Republican lawmakers — one of whom explained his decision by noting Trump seemed "lonely" — are facing increased pressure from an unexpected source.
"They feel pressure not just from Trump but from the pro-Trump media," Stelter said.
The fact that outlets supportive of the former president have shifted the way they're covering this issue, Stelter argued, is "an under-appreciated aspect of the story."
"Honestly, I think what happened is the likes of MSNBC were taking this seriously," he said. "They knew this was a big news story. So those far-right outlets have gradually started to take it more seriously. They started to show up. Some of the Fox anchors are now showing up in the courtroom."
Watch the video below or at the link here.
Brian Stelter says MAGA media knows they can't ignore Trump trial youtu.be
