Trump administration struggles to sell Iran war ahead of US midterms
Al Jazeera’s The Listening Post examines the administration’s war messaging as prices rise and tensions with the media deepen.
The Trump administration is trying to promote a positive account of its continuing war with Iran, according to an Al Jazeera report published as the US midterm elections approach.
The Listening Post says rising fuel and grocery prices are complicating that effort, alongside Donald Trump’s provocative social media posts and the Pentagon’s combative relationship with news organisations.
The programme examines how the administration’s account of the war is being presented and challenged, with contributors from US policy, Iran and media backgrounds.
It also discusses reporting by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz about what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knew before the October 7 attacks. Netanyahu has called the reporting fabricated and threatened to sue.
The programme further revisits US newsroom coverage of COVID-19, examining claims from contributors that pandemic reporting damaged public trust. Those questions are presented separately from the debate over the Iran war and current election messaging.
