Trump’s latest comments about hitting Iran “very hard” to honor slain US soldiers showcase yet again how the corporate media loves to play up conflict. Fox News will undoubtedly spin this into a narrative of “strong leadership,” but let’s be real—this is part of a larger, troubling pattern of saber-rattling that fuels endless wars. What does it say when our former president treats military action like a game of chess, all for a soundbite?

Meanwhile, CNN will focus on emphasizing the “sadness” in his remarks, trying to paint him as a conflicted war hawk while downplaying the hawkish undertones. Their reporting often misses the glaring hypocrisy of pushing for peace when it suits their agenda but whipping up war fervor the moment it becomes politically advantageous. Let’s not forget, the media’s failure to hold leadership accountable has directly contributed to the perpetual cycle of violence.

At the end of the day, both sides of the corporate media spectrum are complicit in propagating this dangerous narrative. They distract us with emotional rhetoric while avoiding critical questions: Who profits from this aggression? How many lives will be lost? Instead of meaningful dialogue, we get recycled tropes about honor and strength, all while the military-industrial complex thrives.