The New York Times is facing extensive criticism for a recent headline that sounded, to some, dismissive of the recent felony criminal conviction of former President Donald Trump in proceedings in the paper’s own hometown, New York City.
The newspaper has faced repeated rounds of criticism alleging that it’s been too allowing of not simply conservatism but specifically the pro-Trump, democratic process-targeting version of it.
The original headline, as captured in a screenshot, read: “Biden Campaign Ad Paints Trump as a Felon.” Observers seized on the paper saying that the campaign’s ad “paints” Trump with such a status, as though there’s some question about it. At present, there’s not. Trump was, in fact, convicted of dozens of felony criminal charges after prosecutors in Manhattan alleged that he falsified business records in connection to hush money from before the 2016 presidential election for a woman named Stormy Daniels.
“Y’all, he’s not “painted” as a felon,” said longtime Republican strategist Rick Wilson. “Trump is, in fact, a felon 34 times over. Allow me: “Biden Campaign Ad Highlights Trump’s Felony Convictions” “Biden Campaign Ad Reminds Voters Trump Is A Felon.””
Author Jeff Sharlet was another to comment publicly on the phrasing. “These @nytimes headlines are getting comically bad. “Paints”? No—Trump IS a felon,” he said. “It’s not an opinion.”
“It is amazing the lengths legacy media goes to soft- peddle basic facts about Trump,” added former journalist Jennifer Schulze. “He IS a convicted felon & this new Biden ad clearly says that. The @nytimes headline and story about the ad should say it plainly, too. COME ON.”
Trump is now heading towards a sentencing in his case, which is slated for July — just before Republicans are still on track to formally make him their presidential nominee for the year at convention proceedings in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
