--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: During his 2016 campaign, Mr. Trump…" description: "\"During his 2016 campaign, Mr. Trump didn't rely on the word 'hoax.' He didn't even say 'fake news.' He called the news media 'sick' and biased, but he ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e3/brian-stelter-4517_election_during-his-2016-campaign-mr-trump-didn-t_701705.jpg" --- # During his 2016 campaign, Mr. Trump didn't rely on the… ![“During his 2016 campaign, Mr. Trump didn't rely on the word 'hoax.' He didn't even say 'fake news.' He called the news media 'sick' and biased, but he didn't seriously start to deny its legitimacy until January 2017, when he was confronted by evidence that the Russian government aided his…” quote by Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e3/brian-stelter-4517_election_during-his-2016-campaign-mr-trump-didn-t_701705.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e3/brian-stelter-4517_election_during-his-2016-campaign-mr-trump-didn-t_701705.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e3/brian-stelter-4517_election_during-his-2016-campaign-mr-trump-didn-t_701705.jpg) > “During his 2016 campaign, Mr. Trump didn't rely on the word 'hoax.' He didn't even say 'fake news.' He called the news media 'sick' and biased, but he didn't seriously start to deny its legitimacy until January 2017, when he was confronted by evidence that the Russian government aided his election. That's when he truly needed the news to be fake.” [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Trump avoided labeling media as fake until evidence of Russian interference forced him to delegitimize it. **In simple terms:** He delayed calling news fake until political pressure grew. Key Takeaway Recognize how political pressure shapes media narratives. Themes politics media credibility Mood critical analytical Type commentary political When to use this quote - election campaigns - media criticism - public trust - political strategy Key Concepts propaganda information warfare Questions to Reflect On - How does political pressure influence media labeling? - What are the risks of delegitimizing news sources? A Different Perspective His rhetoric may have been strategic rather than genuine belief. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Fake news](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fake-news/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [The news is fake because so much of the news is fake. 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You know what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-leaks-are-real-you-re-the-one-that-wrote-about-them-and-reported/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I think there is a danger when it comes to fake news because there is some fake news out there, but there's also a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-muir/i-think-there-is-a-danger-when-it-comes-to-fake-news-because-there-is/) [David Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-muir/) > [Russia is all fake news. It's all fake news. The nice thing is, I see it starting to turn, where people are now looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/russia-is-all-fake-news-it-s-all-fake-news-the-nice-thing-is-i-see-it/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In a fascist system, it's not the lies that count but the muddying. When citizens can't tell real news from fake, they give up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/in-a-fascist-system-it-s-not-the-lies-that-count-but-the-muddying/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [Looking back, Mr. Trump's exploitation of the term 'fake news' to smear journalists was the single most consequential thing he did during the transition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/looking-back-mr-trump-s-exploitation-of-the-term-fake-news-to-smear/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [Fake News has become a matter of concern in the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-thakur/fake-news-has-become-a-matter-of-concern-in-the-country/) [Anurag Thakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-thakur/) > [“If you are verifying information for yourself, you will not send on fake news to others. If”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-snyder/if-you-are-verifying-information-for-yourself-you-will-not-send-on/) [Timothy Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-snyder/) > [ I was incredulous as the bias of the media in terms of the candidates \[for presidency\]. I was incredulous at the fake news. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-broadwell/i-was-incredulous-as-the-bias-of-the-media-in-terms-of-the-candidates/) [Paula Broadwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-broadwell/) > [We are at a moment that some of the Silicon Valley companies are feeling the pressure. These days the founder of Twitter apologized that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramesh-srinivasan/we-are-at-a-moment-that-some-of-the-silicon-valley-companies-are/) [Ramesh Srinivasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramesh-srinivasan/) > [“This was why he had so naturally cottoned to the “fake news” label. “I’ve made stuff up forever, and they always print it,” he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/this-was-why-he-had-so-naturally-cottoned-to-the-fake-news-label-i-ve/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) > [CNN is not fake news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolene-ivey/cnn-is-not-fake-news/) [Jolene Ivey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolene-ivey/) > [For me it was just exciting to see fake news catching on like that. We don't you know, it's interesting. I think we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/for-me-it-was-just-exciting-to-see-fake-news-catching-on-like-that-we/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) ## More by Brian Stelter > [Donald Trump has been planting seeds for over a year, warning supporters not to trust the government, the polls or the media, because it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/donald-trump-has-been-planting-seeds-for-over-a-year-warning/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [For a broad, star-powered picture like 'The Interview,' a big-tent release in 2,000 to 3,000 theaters is the top choice for a movie studio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/for-a-broad-star-powered-picture-like-the-interview-a-big-tent/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [Interviewers, even the ones that support the person they're interviewing, have an obligation to probe further and push back when a candidate says something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/interviewers-even-the-ones-that-support-the-person-they-re/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [These communities that are losing local news coverage are losing something deeper. They're losing a connection to American democracy. And those connections must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/these-communities-that-are-losing-local-news-coverage-are-losing/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [Some journalists are schmucks, in it for themselves, willing to cut corners. But in my experience the vast majority of journalists are trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/some-journalists-are-schmucks-in-it-for-themselves-willing-to-cut/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [News outlets use words like erratic, volatile, unstable but rarely are Trump's words and actions covered as a whole and rarely do news outlets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/news-outlets-use-words-like-erratic-volatile-unstable-but-rarely-are/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [It's not as if Trump is addicted to the best-researched, most in-depth, meticulously sourced material in the world. If he were, we'd all be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/it-s-not-as-if-trump-is-addicted-to-the-best-researched-most-in-depth/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [The political system, folks, is rigged. It's a rigged, disgusting, dirty system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/the-political-system-folks-is-rigged-it-s-a-rigged-disgusting-dirty/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [Many Republicans knew that Trump's anti-media attacks were damaging, and they cringed when his White House was consumed by his own narcissism. They knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/many-republicans-knew-that-trump-s-anti-media-attacks-were-damaging/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [The leaders of Fox News will never say this out loud, but they believe that their media empire is bigger than President Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/the-leaders-of-fox-news-will-never-say-this-out-loud-but-they-believe/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [Trump's war on the nation's news media, his war on truth, his war on reality ultimately caused him to become the first U.S. president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/trump-s-war-on-the-nation-s-news-media-his-war-on-truth-his-war-on/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [I keep hearing from readers who say 'Hoax' helps them understand their own family a little bit better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/i-keep-hearing-from-readers-who-say-hoax-helps-them-understand-their/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [Trump might think that Fox needs his star power, and on the margins it's true that Trump appearances and interviews are right-wing ratings boosters.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/trump-might-think-that-fox-needs-his-star-power-and-on-the-margins-it/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [Rarely, if ever, has a cable news channel employed a host who has previously campaigned for the business goals of the channel's parent company.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/rarely-if-ever-has-a-cable-news-channel-employed-a-host-who-has/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) > [Trump has broken the news system because he has found ways to go out there, get attention, say a lot of things that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stelter/trump-has-broken-the-news-system-because-he-has-found-ways-to-go-out/) [Brian Stelter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) [Explore all 110 Brian Stelter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stelter/) ## More Election quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [There's more than 1700 emails out of the thirty three thousand Hillary Clinton emails that we've published, just about Libya. It's not that Libya…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/there-s-more-than-1700-emails-out-of-the-thirty-three-thousand/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [It's not clear in the U.S. at the moment, either. We're going through another election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-kerrey/it-s-not-clear-in-the-u-s-at-the-moment-either-we-re-going-through/) [Bob Kerrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-kerrey/) > [I always lose the election in the polls, and I always win it on election day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/i-always-lose-the-election-in-the-polls-and-i-always-win-it-on/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [Elections are not a beauty contest. It is all about tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-franz/elections-are-not-a-beauty-contest-it-is-all-about-tolerance/) Vladimir Franz > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The election of Trump threw the chess board up. The pieces are all over the place. That's upsetting to a lot of people, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/the-election-of-trump-threw-the-chess-board-up-the-pieces-are-all/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [If I had lost the popular vote but won the electoral college and in my first day as president the intelligence community came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-had-lost-the-popular-vote-but-won-the-electoral-college-and-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Let's be honest, if the Democrats didn't support ignoring our nation's immigration laws, there is no way they could win the presidency or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/let-s-be-honest-if-the-democrats-didn-t-support-ignoring-our-nation-s/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [I spent many years working for voting rights, but we still see sophisticated efforts, led by white officials, to disenfranchise black voters in local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-brooke/i-spent-many-years-working-for-voting-rights-but-we-still-see/) [Edward Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-brooke/) > [“The answer to the question raised in the title of this essay - Is salvation a matter of divine determination or human responsibility? -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layton-talbert/the-answer-to-the-question-raised-in-the-title-of-this-essay-is/) [Layton Talbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layton-talbert/) > [One of the reasons people hate politics is that truth is rarely a politician's objective. Election and power are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-thomas/one-of-the-reasons-people-hate-politics-is-that-truth-is-rarely-a/) [Cal Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-thomas/) [Browse all 3,344 Election quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "During his 2016 campaign, Mr. Trump didn't rely on the word 'hoax.' He didn't even say 'fake news.' He called the news media 'sick' and biased, but he didn't seriously start to deny its legitimacy until January 2017, when he was confronted by evidence that the Russian government aided his election. 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