President Trump was correct in spirit when he predicted, at the Oval Office on Thursday, that “the USMCA [United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement] will probably be second” as the liberal media would be hyper-focused on his Impeachment trial in the Senate. It was a prediction a little too favorable to the media seeing as ABC, CBS, and NBC completely ignored the Senate’s overwhelming and bipartisan approval of the United States –Mexico-Canada Agreement on trade during their evening newscasts.
While the networks refused to cover the USMCA they dedicated a large chunk of time to impeachment: 19 minutes and three seconds of combined airtime. NBC Nightly News had the most at almost seven minutes (6:58). ABC’s World News Tonight came in seconds with six minutes, 36 seconds. And the CBS Evening News brought up the rear at five minutes, 29 seconds.
The networks might not have had an interest in covering the massive trade deal that passed 89-10 and would replace the old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Fox News Channel’s Special Report was able to find some time for it.
“In the middle of all of this, the Senate today approved the new USMCA trade deal. It was a major victory of the President, making good on his promise from the 2016 campaign,” reported chief White House correspondent John Roberts.
Following a cut back to a live shot of him on the north lawn, Roberts added:
President Trump is trying to present a contrast from the White House of him doing the nation's business, while up on Capitol Hill there are all these political machinations. And, he still plans to be out of the country addressing the World Economic Forum, just as his Senate trial gets underway. That could change, but for the moment, that is still the plan.
Anchor Bret Baier followed up with a quip about how the stock markets loved the passage of the economic bill. “The markets seemed to like the business part of all this. All three of the major stock exchanges hit new record highs today. The Dow finishing ahead 267. The S&P 500 gained 28. The NASDAQ jumped 98 today,” he reported.
Roberts also aired a soundbite of Trump making his prediction from an event in the Oval Office:
ROBERTS: Though, President Trump, today lamented it would take a backseat to impeachment in the news cycle.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: And the USMCA will probably be second to this witch hunt hoax, which hopefully everyone knows is not going anywhere. It was nothing done wrong. This was a perfect phone call.
All three of the broadcast networks also used soundbites of Trump from that gathering, but they only used Trump’s reaction to impeachment and to the less-than-credible accusations from Rudy Giuliani associate, Lev Parnas.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
Fox News Channel’s Special Report
January 16, 2020
6:04:22 p.m. Eastern(…)
JOHN ROBERTS: In the middle of all of this, the Senate today approved the new USMCA trade deal. It was a major victory of the President, making good on his promise from the 2016 campaign. Though, President Trump, today lamented it would take a backseat to impeachment in the news cycle.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: And the USMCA will probably be second to this witch hunt hoax, which hopefully everyone knows is not going anywhere. It was nothing done wrong. This was a perfect phone call.
[Cuts back to live]
ROBERTS: President Trump is trying to present a contrast from the White House of him doing the nation's business, while up on Capitol Hill there are all these political machinations. And, he still plans to be out of the country addressing the World Economic Forum, just as his Senate trial gets underway. That could change, but for the moment, that is still the plan. Bret.
BRETT BAIER: John Roberts live on the north lawn. John, Thanks.
The markets seemed to like the business part of all this. All three of the major stock exchanges hit new record highs today. The Dow finishing ahead 267. The S&P 500 gained 28. The NASDAQ jumped 98 today.
