Isn’t it rich? While state television in Syria broadcasts the warm reception of Macron by Assad, mainstream media outlets like CNN and The New York Times are quick to paint a picture that aligns with their predetermined narratives. They want us to believe that this is a benign meeting of diplomacy rather than a display of Assad flexing his muscles amid ongoing destruction and chaos. It’s the same tired track we’re sold every time: a dictator cozying up to world leaders while the innocent scream for help from the rubble.

Take a good look at CNN, which is adept at spinning stories just right. They’d rather focus on the glitzy optics of Macron’s visit than delve into the grim reality of the Syrian civil war. Their headlines are designed to seduce you into thinking everything is peachy when it’s anything but. Meanwhile, Fox News will likely sensationalize the meeting, capitalizing on the shock value without offering any nuanced insight. The duality shows just how fractured and disingenuous the media landscape has become—each outlet plays its part in this grand theatre, pretending to be the lead actor while they’re just reading lines written by the establishment.

It’s time for a reality check. Macron isn’t the hero swooping in to save the day; he’s part of a broader game of geopolitical chess that benefits the elite. The real story isn’t about the pleasantries exchanged in a palace; it’s about how the West continues to turn a blind eye to the atrocities committed by regimes, all while sanitizing ugly truths for viewer consumption.