Get well
it is a term that describes how the media softens or rationalizes the erratic and incoherent statements of public figures to make people appear wiser than they really are. Instead of reporting controversial or absurd claims, journalists often sanitize the content, reframing it in a way that minimizes extremism or chaos. In politics, this practice can give voters a false sense of normalcy, especially with figures like Donald Trump, whose often outrageous and conspiratorial rhetoric is “washed” to sound like conventional political speech.
This phenomenon has been particularly evident with Trump, who has made inflammatory, outlandish, and false statements throughout his political career. Below are five examples of applied media
get well-washed
for Trump’s words and actions, blurring the lines between extreme rhetoric and mainstream political discourse.
1. Trump’s CDC Visit During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In March 2020, Trump visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and used the opportunity to talk about Fox News’ ratings, insult political leaders, and downplay the growing severity of COVID-19 cases. Instead of focusing on this chaotic and off-topic comment,
The New York Times
made the show headline: “Trump Says ‘People Need to Keep Calm’ In Coronavirus Outbreak.” This headline completely avoids the erratic nature of Trump’s comments, giving readers the impression that his remarks are level and focused.
2. In the “Debate Agreement” with
In August 2023, Trump posted on Truth Social that he had agreed to a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, accompanied by personal insults and conspiracy-laden rhetoric. The post was disjointed and filled with inaccuracies, but major media outlets like CNN boiled over until Trump just announced his participation in the debate, removing the uncertain tone and false claims.
3. Confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Trump endorsed anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., praising his idea of ​​creating a panel to investigate rising health issues, including the unsubstantiated link between vaccines and autism. While Trump’s endorsement leans heavily toward misguided conspiracy theories,
The New York Times
reporting as a public policy proposal on addressing chronic health issues, ignoring anti-vaccine rhetoric.
4. Mother for Liberty Speech
Speaking at the Moms for Liberty event, Trump floated a conspiracy theory suggesting that schools are performing transition-related surgeries on children without parental consent. Instead of highlighting these baseless and extreme claims, media coverage often focuses on appeals to “conservative moms” and dismisses misinformation, giving the impression that Trump’s speech is a standard political address rather than a platform for fringe conspiracies.
5. Shark Electrocution and Hannibal Lecter Comments
During his 2023 speech in Las Vegas, Trump talked about a variety of strange topics, including fighting shark attacks with electrical appliances and making references to Hannibal Lecter’s cannibalism. Instead of acknowledging the absurdity of the statement, outlets like
The Associated Press
and
CNN
frame the speech as focusing on local labor issues and avoid discussing legal issues. This type of brainwashing leads readers to believe that the speech is more coherent than it actually is.
Why is washing healthy?
The problem with sanity washing is that it distorts reality. By whitewashing Trump’s more extreme or absurd statements, the media normalizes misbehavior and shields the public from full-blown rhetoric. This could mislead voters into thinking that Trump, however controversial, is operating within the confines of normal political discourse. In doing so, the media not only fail to inform but also participate in the erosion of shared reality, where the truth becomes more difficult to discern.
To combat this, journalists must present the words of politicians as they are, without turning them into palatable versions. An informed democracy depends on the public accepting an accurate representation of the truth, even if it is uncomfortable. Sane-washing undermines this goal, allowing dangerous rhetoric to gain ground by making it seem like another day in politics.
