I guess it just depends on perspective.
I viewed the polls and all the reporting around Trump as Gaslighting, and it is still is to this day for the most part.. every story is negative.. you wouldn’t think that the man won the election based on headlines, everything he does, is offered as negative in nearly every press outlet... So they continue to portray those who support(ed) the man as non existent... If all you saw was the MSM you would think that no one supports this man... which is gaslighting.. questioning your own observations and sanity.... Like 31,000+ showing up for a rally in MI on election morning at 1am, but he’s going to be clobbered...
I really don’t see astroturfing as much with the campaign because there was no attempt to portray Hillary’s clearly organized support as grass roots ever... not that I ever saw... Overstated her support yes, ignored the support for her opponent absolutely, but never saw her support being portrayed as some grass roots thing... she was the heir to the system, and the systems candidate all along.
Either way, the lies and deception and bias will just keep continuing.
The one place I have and still do see astroturfing are with these protests, where paid agitators and professional organizations are whipping up folk and bussing in folks... That’s absolutely astroturfing
-PJ