A newly released report from the Media Research Center (MRC) outlines a pattern of consistently negative coverage directed at President Donald Trump and members of his administration, with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth receiving the most critical treatment of all. The MRC analysis found that Hegseth received 100% negative coverage across major broadcast networks—ABC, CBS, and NBC—during Trump’s first 100 days in his second term.
The findings come from an MRC review of 899 stories aired between January 20 and April 9 on the evening newscasts of the three networks. The study analyzed only the remarks made by journalists, anchors, and sources identified as nonpartisan, deliberately excluding commentary from known political figures or partisan pundits. According to the report, Hegseth was mentioned in 40 separate negative statements without a single neutral or positive one.
Hegseth responded to the report on X, formerly Twitter, saying, “100% NEGATIVE coverage from so-called ‘mainstream’ press in the first 100 days. PERFECT SCORE,” and included a graphic that Fox News aired to visualize the MRC’s findings. The graphic also highlighted other officials within the Trump administration, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who currently serves in a senior advisory role, and DOGE head Elon Musk, both of whom received 89% and 96% negative coverage, respectively. Musk replied to the post, stating, “You got me beat 😂.”
In case you wonder what we — and President Trump — are up against.
100% NEGATIVE coverage from so-call “mainstream” press in the first 100 days. PERFECT SCORE.
(Come on @RobertKennedyJr & @elonmusk , you guys can do better!) pic.twitter.com/uYi2ebI0RG
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) April 30, 2025
In comparison, the report references similar coverage metrics during the early months of President Joe Biden’s first term in 2021. According to the MRC, Biden received 59% positive or favorable media treatment in that period, leading critics to question whether a double standard is being applied based on political affiliation or ideology.
A focal point of the negative reporting on Hegseth relates to an ongoing Department of Defense Inspector General review. The investigation concerns allegations that Hegseth used the encrypted messaging platform Signal to coordinate sensitive national security conversations. Reports suggest the communication thread may have included his wife and a member of the media. The broadcast networks covered this story extensively, framing it within concerns over security protocols and information integrity.
The study also noted a disparity in how Trump administration policies were reported. For example, while the administration’s initiatives to reduce illegal border crossings were documented, the MRC states that only four minutes out of a total 233 devoted to immigration coverage were spent discussing these reported improvements.
The broader context of the report highlights a wider trend of declining public confidence in the news media. Data from Gallup shows that trust in traditional media outlets has decreased significantly since the 1970s. At that time, approximately 68% of Americans expressed “a great deal” or “a fair amount” of trust in mass media. By 1997, that figure had dropped to 53%.
The most recent Gallup survey indicates that only 31% of Americans say they trust the media a great deal or fair amount, while 33% have minimal trust, and 36% report having no trust in it at all. The latter figure marks a sharp rise from just 6% in 1972.
The MRC’s report suggests that the relationship between the corporate media and the current administration remains deeply strained. As President Trump continues through his second term, scrutiny of media coverage and accusations of bias are likely to persist, especially as high-profile cabinet members like Secretary Hegseth remain prominent figures in both policy implementation and media narratives.
