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Donald Trump bans media from nomination

Is it legal to do so? (August 2020)

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IS
Inspector Sands

Well, to start with it's a bit of a formality anyway considering he's guaranteed to be the nominee, but presumably the rules of the Republican party state that there must be some form of event to do it rather than just an email. Secondly, not all of the delegates can attend, so it's not like it's just the media being shut-out. Thirdly, it's going to be livestreamed according to CNN - it's not like it's an event where the media can ask questions of DT...

My understanding is that the convention will be live streamed, but there will be no coverage at all of the nomination process.

Which does seem odd as it's a procedural thing. Unless they're expecting, or fearing, that there might be some resistance... I'm sure there's some theories flying round about him being ousted or something. Either that or its damage limitation for if it doesn't go their way in November/January.

Of course there's bound to be someone in there recording it, these days that's just a given


It should be pointed out that the Democratic National Convention probably won't be that much different. According to the latest info on Wikipedia only one broadcaster is sending reporters (Fox News) and none are sending their own OB units as they usually do. So they'll be reliant on the coverage provided by the convention itself
SC
scottishtv Founding member
Obviously this was going to happen:
Quote:
The Republican National Committee says no final decision has been made about whether President Trump’s renomination will be held in private at the GOP convention in Charlotte, contradicting previous reports that restrictions on crowd size during the coronavirus pandemic would prevent the news media from attending.

- As per Washington Post
NL
Ne1L C

Couple of issues. If we take, as our starting base, 'originalism' (a term for constitutional interpretation based on what the founders' were experiencing) then the rolling show of TV networks would be somewhat missing...

But, let us just assume that we're keeping with interpretative constitutionalism (to say, a reading that keeps abreast with the times). Even by that standard, the test fails. There is nothing to stop (or prohibit in a legalistic sense) a reporter's work in covering the nomination, which is an internal party mechanism.

On that basis, it's akin to a party holding a meeting behind closed doors. The result will be in the public domain and will be reported, either by first hand accounts or through the press releases to follow. So, to answer your question, as much as I despise Trump, it does not contravene the constitution, nor, for that matter, most other press norms and conventions.


Apologies for the double post. I studied British Politics for A-Levels (swot I know) and it seems so simple compared to the US. It is a foregone conclusion and yes it is a party issue but I assumed because it involved the head of state it would have been somehow protected by the first amendment.


Not a swot at all! Some of us have a degree in it.

I think there is an issue to clarify here though. This isn't the Head of State undertaking some constitutional role, it's the Republican Party nominating Trump as their candidate for the general election. Yes, he also has the Presidency but that's a slightly different role from candidate of the Republican Party, if that makes sense.


It makes perfect sense. We're used to a simple idea of the leader of the governing party being PM (although the coalition govt of 2010/15 changed that slightly with the Tories being the largest party)

Best stop there before the mods move this to Metropol.
NE
Newsroom
This is entirely about optics, and Trump not wanting networks panning a half empty venue due to the fact many GOP members simply cannot attend due to CV restrictions. There are other GOP members who just don't want to attend.

As to the livestream - it will only be 'in part', as dictated by Trump's team and is being reported widely.
BR
Brekkie
The Trump interview with Jonathan Swan of Axios/HBO one of the best I've seen - just using simple facts to challenge a simple mind.

https://www.axios.com/full-axios-hbo-interview-donald-trump-cd5a67e1-6ba1-46c8-bb3d-8717ab9f3cc5.html
TheTravelcard and Ghost gave kudos

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