Breitbart News has rapidly ascended the social media ladder in the early weeks of Donald Trump’s second presidential term. In a landscape where traditional media often dominates online discourse, Breitbart's substantial engagement growth has marked a noteworthy development.
Breitbart News outperformed legacy media on Facebook, boasting millions more interactions than The New York Times and CNN during Trump’s first two weeks back in office.
The conservative media outlet gained a remarkable 4,853,297 interactions on Facebook, outstripping New York Times' 3.6 million and CNN's 3.1 million.
Despite having considerably fewer page likes than both of these established outlets, Breitbart managed to achieve an impressive lead in audience engagement.
This social media success comes at a time when the Trump administration has extended a hand to media outlets previously sidelined by Washington. During his second stint in the White House, President Trump has made a point of broadening media access, integrating platforms like Breitbart News into White House press briefings.
Breitbart’s growing influence was underscored during White House press events. High-profile figures, such as Breitbart's Matthew Boyle, were present alongside other media members, ready to pose pertinent questions to the new administration.
Russell Vought’s confirmation by the Senate on Thursday coincided with Breitbart’s social media triumphs. This alignment of political and media shifts reveals a strategic move by the administration to foster alliances with various media voices.
Breitbart’s editors celebrated their newfound prominence. Alex Marlow, the Editor-in-Chief, enthusiastically remarked on the remarkable rise and ongoing victories for both the presidential administration and his newsroom.
In a series of statements, Marlow highlighted the sequence of events marking Breitbart's momentum. From gaining recognition in official venues to dominating social interactions, the outlet's journey is seen as a testament to its standing in America's current media landscape.
Marlow's comments reflect a wider perception among Breitbart's leadership that their outlet has secured a preeminent position in the current administration's media strategy.
Examining the metrics further highlights Breitbart's influence. Despite having only 4.4 million page likes, Breitbart surpassed larger competitors in engagements. For context, CNN, boasting 34.4 million page likes, trailed by approximately 1.7 million interactions.
The Washington Post, with over two million additional page likes compared to Breitbart, managed just 771,402 interactions. These figures, coupled with smaller interactions from outlets like Politico and Axios, underscore Breitbart’s exceptional performance.
Politico experienced a particularly low audience interaction level, garnering just 113,218 engagements, despite its visibility and substantial financial backing.
Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary, confirmed the administration's dedication to the First Amendment and expanding media access. Her statements clarified the administration's intention to allow diverse media platforms a voice within the White House's communicative spaces.
Leavitt emphasized that varied platforms are increasingly where Americans, especially younger demographics, seek their news. This shift reflects broader changes in media consumption patterns, aligning more closely with the Trump administration's approach to openness.
In its inclusivity efforts, the White House outlined its plan for media engagement. Opening up daily briefings to a wider array of outlets ensures Breitbart and others are given consistent opportunities to report directly from the seat of governmental power.
This strategic positioning in media engagement aligns with what Leavitt describes as the administration's current success streak. The coordination between political achievements and media positioning is stark, potentially forecasting Breitbart’s continued influence.
