New York Times Editor Believes Media Should Not Aim to Defeat Trump

The executive editor of The New York Times emphasized that it is not the media’s role to prevent former President Donald Trump from securing a second term in office.

“The responsibility lies with [President] Biden and his team to hinder that possibility,” stated Times Executive Editor Joe Kahn during an interview with Semafor.

Kahn highlighted that a newspaper’s duty is to address the issues that are of interest to voters.

“Currently, democracy is one of those issues. However, it is not the top priority – according to polls, immigration ranks highest, followed by the economy and inflation,” he explained. “Should we neglect covering these topics because they may benefit Trump?”

Kahn stressed that The New York Times should not serve as a platform for the Biden campaign.

“We should not transform into Xinhua News Agency or Pravda, spreading biased content that portrays one side favorably while only publishing negative stories about the opposition,” he argued.

While some critics have accused The New York Times of not being sufficiently supportive of Biden, Kahn pointed out that the newspaper has highlighted Biden’s legislative accomplishments, such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the infrastructure bill.

“I believe our coverage offers a well-rounded and fair depiction of Biden,” Kahn stated, noting that the newspaper plays a significant role in shaping news coverage in the U.S. “Of course, we also report on his vulnerabilities and age.”

Kahn commended Biden for demonstrating competence and expertise in various areas, including foreign policy, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, NATO activities, and the complex dynamics involving Israel and the Gaza war.

He also described the unrest on college campuses across the country related to the Middle East conflict as a major story with parallels to the cultural movements of 1968, characterized by youth disillusionment towards traditional establishments, including the media, the Biden administration, and educational institutions.