Trump Press Conference at Mar-a-Lago

Bette Midler, known for her role in Disney’s *Hocus Pocus*, has expressed outrage over major news networks broadcasting former President Donald Trump’s live press conference on Thursday. In a post on X, Midler condemned ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN for airing the event, accusing them of being “corrupt” and suggesting they are aiding Trump’s campaign to enhance their ratings. Her comments reflect a broader sentiment among some left-leaning celebrities who advocate for stricter media controls when it comes to Trump. Midler’s criticism aligns with remarks made by MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell, who also denounced the networks for providing Trump with airtime. She urged the media to be held accountable for their actions, stating, “Keep calling out the truly corrupt media.” This reaction comes in the wake of Trump’s reinstatement on social media platform X, following a ban imposed by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in 2021. During the press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s campaign highlighted the former president’s willingness to engage with the media, contrasting it with Vice President Kamala Harris, who has not held a formal press conference since becoming the Democratic nominee. A Trump campaign source emphasized Trump’s transparency, while GOP vice-presidential candidate JD Vance criticized the media for not pressing Harris for answers. Vance has called on reporters to challenge Harris, arguing that she should fulfill her responsibilities as a presidential candidate. He expressed concern over the lack of media scrutiny directed at her, urging journalists to stop giving her a “honeymoon” period and to demand accountability.