"Enemies of the people": Trump's War toward American Media

This paper contributes to the existing literature by providing a systematic analysis of the institutionalization of anti-press rhetoric in the United States between 2020 and 2025. It moves beyond a purely rhetorical analysis of 'fake news' to examine how administrative tools, legal threats (SLAPP), and regulatory pressures are used to erode the autonomy of major television networks. By identifying these mechanisms as a central governance strategy, the study offers a new framework for understanding 'media capture' in established democracies.