'This Is What Bias Looks Like': How The NYT Reported Trump's Acquittal Versus Clinton's

Leah Barkoukis | February 06, 2020 2:00 PM

If you want to see what media bias looks like, look no further than The New York Times’s headline on President Donald Trump’s acquittal compared to how the paper reported President Bill Clinton’s in 1999.

After the Senate voted to acquit Clinton on two articles of impeachment—perjury and obstruction of justice—The New York Times reported: “Clinton Acquitted Decisively: No Majority For Either Charge.”

“President Says He Is Sorry And Seeks Reconciliation,” a story beneath Clinton’s headline reads.

For Trump, however, the paper wrote: “Split Senate Clears Trump on Each Count in Finale of a Bitter Impeachment Battle.”

“'Country’s Victory,' President Says—Democrats Call Trial a Cover-Up,” says the report below, though the publication couldn't quite bring itself to use the 'A' word. Even on the web version the paper reportedly changed the headline.

The New York Times On Bill Clinton's acquittal:

"CLINTON ACQUITTED DECISIVELY: NO MAJORITY FOR EITHER CHARGE"

The New York Times on @realDonaldTrump's acquittal:

"SPLIT SENATE CLEARS TRUMP ON EACH COUNT
IN FINALE OF A BITTER IMPEACHMENT BATTLE"

This is what bias looks like. pic.twitter.com/4NgbiDVGG0
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) February 6, 2020

Contrast how the @nytimes headlined Clinton’s acquittal versus Trump’s acquittal. Here is #FakeNews in full display pic.twitter.com/6G7UA8syto
— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) February 6, 2020

Brit Hume also shared the front pages of The New York Times and The Washington Post on Thursday.

What I find fascinating is that this outcome was never really in doubt. The vast majority of Americans - including, apparently, some Dem pols & a lot of journalists - seemed unaware that it takes 2/3 of the Senate to convict, and there was zero indication that would happen.
— Bruce F. Webster (@bfwebster) February 6, 2020