President Donald Trump speaks during a signing ceremony with Rwanda's President Paul Kagame and Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)2025-12-05T14:16:24Z NEW YORK (AP) President Donald Trumps White House is taking on the role of media critic and asking for help from everyday Americans.Over the Thanksgiving weekend, the White House launched a web portal it says will spotlight bias on the part of news outlets, targeting the Boston Globe, CBS News and The Independent as its inaugural media offender of the week.Its the latest wrinkle in the fight against what Trump, back in his first term, labeled fake news. The Republican president has taken outlets like CBS News and The Wall Street Journal to court over their coverage, is fighting The Associated Press in court over media access and has moved to dismantle government-run outlets like Voice of America.Trump has also engaged in personal attacks, last month alone saying quiet, piggy, to a female reporter who was questioning him on Air Force One, calling a reporter from The New York Times ugly, both inside and out and publicly telling an ABC News journalist she was a terrible reporter. Its honestly overwhelming to keep up with it all and to constantly have to defend against this fake news and these attacks, said press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who called the new web portal an attempt to hold journalists accountable.After its debut, the White House asked for volunteers to submit their own examples of media bias. So-called journalists have made it impossible to identify every false or misleading story, which is why help from the American people is essential, Trumps press office said. Devouring the media like hot french friesDespite the attacks, Axios wrote this week that the mainstream media is ending the year as dominant as ever in capturing the presidents attention and setting Washingtons agenda, citing as one example The Washington Posts reporting on military strikes against boats with alleged drug smugglers.The irony is that Trump engages with reporters at a level he hasnt seen with any other president in his lifetime, said Axios CEO Jim VandeHei, co-author of the report with Mike Allen.Hes always bitched about the media and the press, VandeHei told The Associated Press. He gobbles this stuff up like hot McDonalds french fries. Hes a mass consumer of this. He watches it, he calls reporters, he takes calls from reporters. ... Thats always been the contradiction with him.The first media honorees were criticized for stories about Trumps reaction to Democratic lawmakers who recorded a video reminding military members they were not required to follow unlawful orders. Trump accused the lawmakers of sedition punishable by death.The White House said it was a misrepresentation to say Trump had called for their executions. The portal also said news outlets subversively implied that the president had issued illegal orders. The news articles they cited did not specifically say whether Trump had or had not ordered illegal activities.The new portal also contains an Offender Hall of Shame of articles it deems unfair and a leaderboard ranking outlets with the most pieces they object to. Twenty-one outlets are represented, led by The Washington Posts five stories. CBS News and MS NOW, the network formerly known as MSNBC, had four apiece. No news outlets that appeal to conservatives were cited for bias.Responded a Post spokeswoman: The Washington Post is proud of its accurate, rigorous journalism. Media watchdog welcomes the companyThe conservative media watchdog Media Research Center, which has accused news outlets of having a liberal bias since 1987, welcomes the company.Were pleased, said Tim Graham, MRCs director of media analysis. Its a stronger effort than Republican presidents have done before. I think all Republicans realize today that the media is on the other side and need to be identified as on the other side.VandeHei said about the portal, I cant think of anything I care less about. If they want to set up a site and point out bias, great. Its called free speech. Do it. I dont think it makes a damned bit of difference.What is damaging is a constant drumbeat of claims that what people read in the media is false. It makes people suspicious of the truth and the country suffers when were not operating from some semblance of a common truth, VandeHei said.___David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social. DAVID BAUDER Bauder is the APs national media writer, covering the intersection of news, politics and entertainment. He is based in New York. twitter mailto RSShttps://feedx.net https://feedx.site