Mainstream media has a worn-out playbook when it comes to President Donald Trump. Building someone who is influential enough to be beneath his skin, and seeing tensions rise and relationships fractured. They used it repeatedly, from Steve Bannon to Anthony Scarumucci. Now they are trying the same tactics with Elon Musk.

Only this time, that doesn’t work.

The strategy is simple. Criticism of the billionaire is likely to be interpreted as an indirect challenge to Trump, mercilessly attacks Musk. The hope is that to never allow Trump to slip the humiliation, he is provoked to turn on musk. However, the problem with this strategy is that it fundamentally misunderstands the relationship between these two men. (Related: Adam Weiss: Media bias has reached a smooth level)

Unlike the rude, energetic New Yorkers who Trump has collided with in the past, Musk is different. He is analytical, oddly reserved, a bit quirky, and most importantly, not easily manipulated by media stories. Trump respects Musk for what he is: the powerful forces of home-built entrepreneurs and the future of global technology. Their true admiration has been repeatedly demonstrated, reassuring us about their leadership.

Observe how Trump highlighted Musk’s accomplishments in his interactions with him. At the famous gathering, Trump introduced the mask to a powerful figure with a clear sense of praise. I’ve seen this in person while interacting with clients at Mar-a-Lago. And who else is the president sitting on, are they given the opportunity to hold a solo press conference in their oval office? Musk did – and Trump allowed it without interruption, something unusual for a man who thrives when commanding the room. It speaks of a volume about the dynamics between them.

A recent hour-long sit-in interview about “Honity” has made the worst media nightmare a reality. It is rare for a president to sit side by side like this. Usually that’s the same as the Vice President or political insider, but Trump gave Elon the seat and the respect that comes with it. It tells you everything about their mutual admiration and influence.

The media is like this now scramble Pivot their strategy. They work overtime to raise musk to drive the wedge between him and Trump, portraying musk as the “real leader” of the movement. They want to manufacture rivalry that doesn’t exist. But here’s the problem. Trump is not threatened by musk. He respects him. And the masks aren’t playing their games – he knows the media tricks and refuses to be their pawn.

Still, the media lasts. No need to look for the latest in Time Magazine cover It portrays him as a controversial figure and features a mask that stirs negative emotions. This is just one example of a media attempt to cast Musk in a negative light, hoping to provoke Trump.

Meanwhile, the so-called “protest” against the mask is prominently coordinated – a well-funded, strategically deployed pressure campaign designed to create an illusion of mass grievances rather than a voluntary uprising. . In particular, these protests target Musk, not Trump. why? Because they know that the left and their media allies can’t afford another powerful figure standing on the corner of Trump.

Trump and his foundations have evolved beyond the old Republican reflections of the cave to media pressure. The standard cycle – Democrats pretend to be angry, media outlets amplify, Republicans backpedal – – is losing its effectiveness. More conservatives will recognize the game they are playing and refuse to play along with them. The left-wing media is no longer challenging the story. (Related: Adam Weiss: Trump is doing something unexpected – making GOP cool)

The reality is that the left is running out of weapons. They ran out of traditional smear tactics, from rumors of Russian conspiracy to manufactured scandals. Their new play – catching Musk against Trump – is doomed to fail because it is based on an outdated understanding of how Trump operates.

Trump is no longer defending. He knows media games. And so is the case with masks.

Adam Weiss is CEO Amw Pr& Media Host exposed to Real America’s Voice News. AMW PR is a New York-based political strategy and communications company. His company works with Jim Brown, Judge Johnny Pillo, Rep. Lee Zeldin, Ebony Williams, Corey Lewandowski, David Bossy, Andrew Giuliani, Gov. Hailey Barber and Steve Hilton. I’ve done it.

The opinions and opinions expressed in this commentary are the views of the authors and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.

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