Not only does he diminish their stature, but Trump makes them work. And they don’t like that.
I recall hearing a story after the election was called for Bidet about how the press felt. In this particular story, the press was relieved because “covering Trump was exhausting.”
Here’s a 2020 pre-election story on the same topic: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/four-more-exhausting-years-trump-reporters-mull-covering-a-second-term-1292213/
“ As journalists, I don’t think anybody cares about what party the president of the United States is,” the producer says. (ED NOTE-WHAT A CROCK) “What they care about is being able to live their lives normally again. I think there’s mental exhaustion around this presidency, and I don’t know anybody who is enjoying it. I don’t know anybody who wants to do another four years of this news cycle.”
The producer continues: “It’s not a matter what his political beliefs or his ideological beliefs are. The exhaustion comes from his behaviors. That’s it. His behavior is exhausting. … I don’t I think have ever run into anybody who says they literally hate Donald Trump the man. They’re just exhausted by his behavior, and I think that’s fair. Nobody I know is openly rooting for him to lose.”
Using similar language, a broadcast news executive says that a second Trump term “would be exhausting” for journalists.
“ the press was relieved because “covering Trump was exhausting.”
The press covers nothing but Trump
Of course the press was rooting for Trump to lose. Reporters weren’t going to admit that on camera, but everybody knew what side they were on and what they were doing.
What was so wrong though, about journalists being “exhausted”? Weren’t they adrenaline junkies excited by the rush to get their reports in before the deadlines? I suspect what they disliked was that Trump challenged them and that they couldn’t easily bring him down like they did other presidents.