MS NOW host Rachel Maddow stated on Saturday that President Donald Trump's recent decision to ban CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House is a familiar rally tactic, aimed at encouraging supporters to target news organizations labeled as "Fake News."
During an appearance on her colleague Peter Alexander's program "State of Play," Maddow recalled covering Trump rallies where the then-candidate would direct the crowd's attention toward the media, often remarking on their coverage as "dishonest." This, she said, would prompt attendees to boo and heckle reporters.
"We would have this sort of Orwellian, two minutes [of] hate," Maddow said, describing the experience. "The whole crowd turns around and starts screaming at them and baying for blood, and he loves that."
Maddow suggested that Trump's actions stem from a politically "low place," noting that his approval ratings remain unfavorable and his foreign policy actions have not bolstered his standing. She posited that the president is returning to familiar strategies because the usual tactics may not be as effective as they once were.
"He’s in a really low place politically and so I think this is him playing the hits," Maddow stated. "I think this is him going back to something that he knows his base will enjoy, and he wants that feeling again. And I think it’s as simple as that."
Maddow's commentary comes as the White House's decision to bar the three news outlets has drawn criticism from across the media landscape. Some legal experts have called the move unconstitutional. A federal judge previously ruled against a temporary ban the White House attempted to impose on The Associated Press over its refusal to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America."