The Implications of a Second Trump Term on America: A Dire Perspective from The Atlantic's Senior Editor
The Atlantic's top editor warns that a second term for Trump could have dire consequences for America, prompting Jeffrey Goldberg to fiercely resist and speak out against the potential threat
This article originally appeared in the "Reliable Sources" newsletter. To stay informed about changes in the media landscape, sign up for the daily digest here.
Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, is not going down without a fight.
"We cannot contribute to normalizing Donald Trump," Goldberg passionately stated in a phone call on Monday. "I refuse to be a part of normalizing Donald Trump."
Goldberg is among the few influential leaders in the newsroom who have been extremely aware of the dangerous threat approaching American democracy. Through straightforward language, Goldberg and his team at the prestigious magazine have unhesitatingly depicted Trump as a destroyer of civil society and a direct threat to the U.S. Constitution.
Monday saw the release of a special edition of The Atlantic's monthly magazine, centered on the possibility of a second term for Trump. The issue, titled "If Trump Wins," includes twenty-four articles detailing how the twice-impeached and four-time indicted candidate would impact norms, manipulate government, distort the rule of law, and undermine democracy.
"I hope this issue will help those who are uncertain about Trump's authoritarianism," Goldberg shared with me.
The leaders of major American newsrooms may personally believe that Trump will seek to govern as an authoritarian, but it is uncommon to hear any of them openly express this opinion, especially in such direct terms. However, Goldberg is not hesitant to do so. He emphasizes that his stance is not partisan. He stressed that it is "not about Republicans and Democrats," but "about authoritarians versus pro-democracy Americans." In his opinion, failing to be transparent with readers about the dangerous forces at play would be a neglect of duty.
"I would rather have journalists speak openly about what they are witnessing," Goldberg stated. "And I am convinced that a second Trump term poses a threat to the existence of America as we know it."
Newsrooms often find it easy to declare their support for democracy, but the challenging reality is that taking a strong pro-democracy stance can be seen as being anti-Trump. Many news organizations struggle with this issue, as they do not want to appear partisan or alienate their audiences. As journalist Goldberg pointed out, the uncomfortable truth is that the events of recent times have shown that Donald Trump has defied democratic norms, making it necessary for the media to honestly confront the potential consequences of a second Trump term.
When I inquired Goldberg about the potential for turning away persuadable audiences by openly discussing the possibility of a second Trump presidency, he dismissed the idea of self-censorship. He expressed that there comes a moment when you can't convince people of reality.
"We can only strive to fairly and thoroughly present our fact-checked perspectives on Trump and Trumpism, and hope that readers acknowledge our commitment to truthfulness, transparency, and self-awareness," Goldberg stated. "If some American voters are unable to accept that, then that's their choice. There's little I can do about it."
Goldberg expressed the challenge that journalism institutions face, pointing out the desire to reach all Americans while also acknowledging the impact of reporting on certain realities. He has also experienced the consequences of being candid and reporting aggressively about Trump, including security concerns that required him to move out of his house after a report about disparaging comments Trump made about American servicemembers.
He cautioned that a second term for Trump could have more serious implications for the press. This means that members of the news media should consider their editorial decisions now, given Trump's stated intentions to silence critics if he were to be reelected.
"We are all aware that Trump views us as enemies of the state, and we know that there could be consequences for us as a result," Goldberg said. "There is a possibility that he may attempt to criminalize reporting in a second term, so we must raise awareness about this, in addition to the broader threats to American democracy. It is crucial that we raise awareness about this now."
