Sheikh Hamad’s passing at 74 is framed by mainstream media as a great loss for Qatar, but what they really want is to romanticize his “visionary leadership” while glossing over the hard realities of his regime. Networks like CNN and BBC focus on his legacy of economic development, but let’s not pretend this is all sunshine and rainbows. The economic boom didn’t come just from “building lasting wealth”; it was also about silencing dissent and closing off opposition. They want to paint Sheikh Hamad as a benevolent leader, but that narrative protects the establishment’s cozy relationship with Middle Eastern autocrats.

Fox News may take a different approach, likely highlighting Sheikh Hamad’s successes in diversifying Qatar’s economy—again, conveniently ignoring labor rights abuses and how wealth has rarely trickled down to the average citizen. Instead of a balanced view, you get carefully curated praise that masks a reality where wealth equates to power and privilege for a select few.

This isn’t just about a man; it’s about the narrative being spun to serve an agenda. The moment you peel back those layers, you see an unsettling truth. Media outlets are more concerned with maintaining their access to power than delivering an honest depiction of events. Sheikh Hamad may have shaped Qatar, but let’s not pretend he was a saint amid burgeoning capitalism layered with authoritarianism.