The Donald Trump administration strengthened its strategy to communicate directly with the public without going through traditional media, resulting in a surge in online influence. According to statistics released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the department's weekly social media exposure rose from 3.5 million in February to over 46 million in July. This figure represents an increase of more than 13 times in just five months.
On the 19th (local time), Newsmax reported that President Trump has encouraged the use of social media (SNS) centered around the Department of Homeland Security since shortly after his inauguration. Criticizing the bias of traditional media, President Trump has emphasized that 'delivering a message directly to voters is the most effective.' DHS officials evaluated that 'this achievement demonstrates that the direct communication strategy pursued by the president for a long time is working at the federal level.'
Traditional media reacted immediately. CNN criticized the DHS for posting images of illegal immigrant crime alongside the American flag, claiming that it is appealing to 'white identity.' Critics pointed out that it emphasizes a frame of 'immigrants as threats and white citizens as victims,' going beyond simple crime reporting.
The Washington Post reported that 'the DHS distorts public opinion by placing images of the U.S. flag alongside pictures of immigrant criminals.' NBC and ABC also focused on analyzing DHS's online activities, maintaining a negative tone. However, administration supporters countered that 'the media underreports or entirely ignores illegal immigrant crimes,' asserting that DHS's message reflects reality more accurately.
Actual cases followed. In Wisconsin, two teenagers were killed in a drunk driving incident involving an undocumented immigrant, and in New Jersey, a mother and daughter died in a traffic accident caused by an undocumented immigrant. In Louisiana, a 59-year-old man lost his life due to a drunk driving incident with an undocumented immigrant. The Trump administration emphasized the need for direct communication by stating, 'These incidents have not been sufficiently covered by national media.'
Experts analyzed that the DHS's online strategy is becoming a political weapon beyond a simple communication tool. They noted that the administration can deliver its desired message instantly through digital platforms while defining the media as 'adversaries' rather than 'intermediaries,' thus strengthening the mobilization of supporters.
President Trump has branded mainstream media as 'fake news,' using direct communication as a political brand. Axios assessed that the online expansion of the DHS is an example of this strategy being scaled up to the federal level. Experts predict that 'this trend could lead to changes in the communication methods across the political spectrum.'