# Post x_894518002795900928

- Post ID: `x_894518002795900928`
- Platform: X (Twitter)
- Posted: 2017-08-07T11:18:05.000Z (UTC)
- Deleted: no
- Repost: no
- Canonical URL: https://trump.fm/post/x_894518002795900928
- Analysis page: https://trump.fm/post/x_894518002795900928/analysis
- Audio narration: https://static.trump.fm/audio/x_894518002795900928.mp3 (a synthesized voice reading the post text, not a recording)

## Post text

> Hard to believe that with 24/7 #Fake News on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, NYTIMES & WAPO, the Trump base is getting stronger!

## Engagement

- Likes: 74,243
- Reposts: 17,420
- Replies: 0
- Views: unknown
- Metrics collected: 2026-01-31T23:43:13.388Z (UTC)

# Analysis

_Machine-generated by trump.fm on 2026-03-11T21:28:48.984Z (UTC): a model's reading of this post, not his words. Its psychological terms describe the language, not a clinical assessment of him._

## Psychological Analysis: Post x_894518002795900928

**Post:** "Hard to believe that with 24/7 #Fake News on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, NYTIMES & WAPO, the Trump base is getting stronger!"

### Context
This is part of a multi-post thread on August 7, 2017, all focused on the same theme: media criticism paired with claims of base strength. Trump was likely at his Bedminster golf club during the August recess period. At 11:18 UTC = ~7:18 AM ET — early morning, consistent with authentic posting.

### Authorship
Early morning, informal tone, hashtag usage, exclamation point, self-referential third person ("the Trump base") — all consistent with authentic Trump posting. The slight polish (no typos) is within his range for shorter tweets.

### Psychological Analysis
This post is part of a perseverative cluster — five posts in sequence on the same theme (media bad, base strong). The repetition itself is notable. The trigger is clearly sustained negative media coverage, likely related to the Russia investigation and low approval ratings during this period.

The core dynamic is **narcissistic supply-seeking through defiance framing**: the media attacks validate rather than diminish him, converting injury into triumph. "Hard to believe" performs false modesty while asserting resilience.

### Rhetorical Techniques
- Enumeration of enemies (six outlets listed) creates sense of overwhelming opposition
- Paradox framing: more attacks = more strength (unfalsifiable)
- Third-person self-reference ("the Trump base") creates brand identity
- The #FakeNews hashtag functions as epistemological dismissal

### Defense Mechanisms
Denial of media criticism's validity, reaction formation (converting threat into strength narrative), and splitting (all mainstream media = fake).

## Fact Verification

| Claim | Verdict | Evidence |
|-------|---------|----------|
| "The Trump base is getting stronger despite negative media coverage" | **Mostly False** | Trump's approval ratings in early August 2017 were around 36-38%, near historic lows for that point in a presidency. While his core base remained loyal, 'getting stronger' overstates the reality. |

Overall Veracity: 20%

## Authorship Analysis

**Self-Written** (score: 85%)

### Indicators

- Early morning posting (7:18 AM ET)
- Exclamation point ending
- Hashtag #Fake News usage
- Self-referential third person
- Informal combative tone

## Psychological Profile

### State

**Mixed State**

**Trigger:** Narcissistic Injury — Criticism (Sustained negative media coverage, Russia investigation, approval ratings)

Sentiment: +0.30

**Mildly Hypomanic**
- Rapid-fire posting cluster of 5+ tweets on single theme
- Grandiose framing of opposition as fuel for strength

### Clinical

**Malignant Narcissism:**
- Narcissistic: 60%
- Antisocial: 10%
- Paranoid: 40%
- Sadism: 10%

**Defense Mechanisms:**
- denial (pathological)
- reaction formation (neurotic)
- splitting (immature)

**Cognitive Complexity:**
- Complexity: 30%

Cognitive Markers:
- perseveration

**Parasocial Techniques:**
- in-group identity reinforcement
- shared enemy construction
- brand loyalty appeal

## Danger Assessment

**NONE**

### Gaslighting

- Blanket dismissal of six major news organizations as 'Fake News'
- Implicit demand that followers reject mainstream media reality

## Fact Checks (1)

_The model's verdicts from 2026-03-11._

> The Trump base is getting stronger despite negative media coverage

**MOSTLY FALSE**

Trump's approval ratings in early August 2017 were around 36-38%, near historic lows for that point in a presidency. While his core base remained loyal, 'getting stronger' overstates the reality.

Sources: Gallup presidential approval tracking; RealClearPolitics polling averages

Overall Veracity: 20%

## Tags

- media_attack (90%)
- base_loyalty (80%)
- perseveration (60%)
- epistemic_closure (70%)

## That day

_From trump.fm's machine-generated digest of the day, not his words._

**Diplomatic Win on North Korea Eclipsed by Morning Rage Spiral Against Blumenthal and Relentless Media Grievance**

Trump spent the day at his Bedminster, New Jersey golf club, toggling between celebrating the unanimous UN sanctions vote on North Korea and lashing out at critics. The morning brought a rapid-fire burst of posts defending his base strength in response to unfavorable polling, which escalated into a sustained and personal attack on Senator Richard Blumenthal over his Vietnam service record -- a notable choice given that Trump himself avoided Vietnam-era service. The afternoon featured a staff-crafted Purple Heart Day tribute bookended by renewed attacks on the New York Times and a final cruel jab at Blumenthal, capping a day where a genuine foreign policy achievement was largely self-sabotaged by grievance.

Full digest for 2017-08-07: https://trump.fm/date/2017-08-07/analysis

## Citation

- APA: Trump, D. J. (2017, August 7). Hard to believe that with 24/7 #Fake News on CNN,... [Social media post]. X (Twitter). trump.fm. https://trump.fm/post/x_894518002795900928
- MLA: Trump, Donald J. "Hard to believe that with 24/7 #Fake News on CNN, ABC, NBC,..." X (Twitter), 7 Aug. 2017. trump.fm, https://trump.fm/post/x_894518002795900928. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.
- Chicago: Donald J. Trump, "Hard to believe that with 24/7 #Fake News on CNN, ABC, NBC,...," X (Twitter), August 7, 2017, archived at trump.fm, https://trump.fm/post/x_894518002795900928.

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