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PoliticsQuiet 9d · day 16

Trump's 'Cheat Like Hell' Pledge Draws Fire Over Soft NYT Coverage

Techdirt accuses the New York Times of downplaying Trump's convention call for supporters to 'cheat like hell,' reviving debate over press treatment of the president.

newest coverage 8d agosummary written 8d ago124 pieces1.6k likes & upvotes76 comments MastodonNewswiresRedditYouTubeBlueskyXHacker NewsGoogle News

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  5. Trump's 'Cheat Like Hell' Pledge Draws Fire Over Soft NYT Coverageyou are here
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What to know

  • At the close of the RNC's first-ever midterm convention, Trump led about 20,000 attendees in a pledge that included vowing to vote regardless of registration and to 'cheat like hell like they do.'
  • Trump has previously pushed unfounded voter-fraud claims, called for long prison sentences for election 'cheaters,' and floated a 'national security emergency' and federal takeover of voting in some states.
  • Coverage split between outlets emphasizing the 'cheat like hell' line and the New York Times, whose headline instead highlighted Trump saying he was 'a bit tired of politics,' drawing accusations of media bias from critics and Techdirt.
  • The episode comes amid Republican anxiety about midterm prospects, with polls suggesting the GOP could lose the House and possibly the Senate.

The dispute Whether the story's real news is Trump's cheating pledge itself or the mainstream press's decision to underplay it. · positions read across 29 posts and comments

most voices

Mainstream media, especially the New York Times, downplayed or buried the 'cheat like hell' remark, proving press complicity.

  • “The fact Donald Trump told his supporters last night to "Cheat like hell" in 2026 election BUT that isn't the headline nationwide shows you again how corporate media is complicit.”

    thelibbojack.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
many voices

The pledge itself is alarming and revealing about Trump and his supporters, not just a media-framing issue.

  • “When people show you who they are, believe them.”

    georgetakei@universeodon.com · Mastodon ↗
some voices

The 'go to hell' framing is being mocked or turned back on Trump and his supporters rather than taken as a real threat.

  • “If they don't vote Republican, they go to hell. If they do vote Republican, we ALL get dragged there with them and MAYBE Jesus bails the rest of us out.”

    aradraugfea · Reddit comment ↗

“You gotta do me the biggest favour you've ever done me. You've gotta do this for me. You've got to pretend I'm on the ticket.”

Donald Trump, U.S. President · The Guardian ↗ · Sep 10

Donald TrumpDonald Trump U.S. PresidentThe New York Times News outletMike MasnickMike Masnick Techdirt editorDemocrats / election-integrity critics Political opposition

Trump's 'Cheat Like Hell' Pledge Draws Fire Over Soft NYT Coverage
theguardian.com

How it unfolded 6 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesvideospostscomments

Peak 33 pieces in 4h at Sep 10, 11 PM; 124 pieces over 16 days (59 articles · 7 videos · 56 posts · 2 comments) Sep 8, 11 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 8, 3 PM — quietSep 8, 7 PM — quietSep 8, 11 PM — quietSep 9, 3 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 9, 7 AM — quietSep 9, 11 AM — quietSep 9, 3 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 9, 7 PM — quietSep 9, 11 PM — quietSep 10, 3 AM — quietSep 10, 7 AM — quietSep 10, 11 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Newswires 3Sep 10, 3 PM — quietSep 10, 7 PM — 5 pieces · 1 article · 4 posts — Mastodon 4, Newswires 1Sep 10, 11 PM — 33 pieces · 16 articles · 4 videos · 13 posts — Newswires 13, Mastodon 12, YouTube 4, +3 moreSep 11, 3 AM — 6 pieces · 1 article · 1 video · 4 posts — Mastodon 2, Reddit 2, YouTube 1, +1 moreSep 11, 7 AM — 17 pieces · 8 articles · 1 video · 7 posts · 1 comment — Newswires 8, Reddit 4, Mastodon 3, +2 moreSep 11, 11 AM — 25 pieces · 19 articles · 6 posts — Newswires 17, Mastodon 7, Hacker News 1Sep 11, 3 PM — 9 pieces · 2 articles · 1 video · 6 posts — Mastodon 5, Reddit 1, YouTube 1, +2 moreSep 11, 7 PM — 6 pieces · 3 articles · 3 posts — Google News 2, Mastodon 2, Newswires 1, +1 moreSep 11, 11 PM — 4 pieces · 1 article · 3 posts — Reddit 1, Bluesky 1, Mastodon 1, +1 moreSep 12, 3 AM — quietSep 12, 7 AM — 2 pieces · 2 posts — Mastodon 1, Reddit 1Sep 12, 11 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Reddit 1Sep 12, 3 PM — 3 pieces · 3 posts — Mastodon 3Sep 12, 7 PM — 1 piece · 1 comment — Reddit 1Sep 12, 11 PM — quietSep 13, 3 AM — quietSep 13, 7 AM — quietSep 13, 11 AM — quietSep 13, 3 PM — quietSep 13, 7 PM — quietSep 13, 11 PM — quietSep 14, 3 AM — quietSep 14, 7 AM — quietSep 14, 11 AM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Mastodon 2, Newswires 1Sep 14, 3 PM — quietSep 14, 7 PM — quietSep 14, 11 PM — quietSep 15, 3 AM — quietSep 15, 7 AM — 3 pieces · 1 article · 2 posts — Mastodon 2, Newswires 1Sep 15, 11 AM — quietSep 15, 3 PM — quietSep 15, 7 PM — quietSep 15, 11 PM — quietSep 16, 3 AM — quietSep 16, 7 AM — quietSep 16, 11 AM — quietSep 16, 3 PM — quietSep 16, 7 PM — quietSep 16, 11 PM — quietSep 17, 3 AM — quietSep 17, 7 AM — quietSep 17, 11 AM — quietSep 17, 3 PM — quietSep 17, 7 PM — quietSep 17, 11 PM — quietSep 18, 3 AM — quietSep 18, 7 AM — quietSep 18, 11 AM — quietSep 18, 3 PM — quietSep 18, 7 PM — quietSep 18, 11 PM — quietSep 19, 3 AM — quietSep 19, 7 AM — quietSep 19, 11 AM — quietSep 19, 3 PM — quietSep 19, 7 PM — quietSep 19, 11 PM — quietSep 20, 3 AM — quietSep 20, 7 AM — quietSep 20, 11 AM — quietSep 20, 3 PM — quietSep 20, 7 PM — quietSep 20, 11 PM — quietSep 21, 3 AM — quietSep 21, 7 AM — quietSep 21, 11 AM — quietSep 21, 3 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quiet 12–3456
Sep 10Sep 12Sep 14Sep 16Sep 18Sep 20now · 2:05 AM ET
  1. 6

    Techdirt says NYT coverage sanitized Trump's cheating remark

    Techdirt's Mike Masnick argued the mainstream press, especially the New York Times, softened its framing of Trump's 'cheat like hell' remark compared to how it would cover a Democratic president saying the same thing, reigniting the earlier backlash days after the speech.

    “Trump Told Supporters To "Cheat Like Hell." The NY Times Went With "A Bit Tired Of Politics."”
    — Techdirt / Mike Masnick
    • blogdiva@mastodon.social

      ❝ “I pledge to the greatest president in the history of the United States that loves us so much he can’t even breathe, that I will go out with my family, my friends,” he continued. “I don’t care if I’m registered or not. I’m going to try and cheat like hell like they do. There’s never been bigger cheaters. I don’t care,” he said.“ ❞ » Trump Told…

      blogdiva@mastodon.socialMastodon9d ago13▲view on Mastodon ↗
  2. 1 day quiet
  3. 5

    Some GOP loyalists question Trump-centric midterm strategy

    The Japan Times reported that even some Republican loyalists at the Dallas convention questioned the wisdom of making Trump himself the central appeal of the midterm campaign, given his approval ratings.

    “Having people pledge allegiance to himself is the most on-brand Trump thing to do, and it shows how cult-like the base is that they did it.”
    — unnamed progressive critic, quoted by Common Dreams · source

    1. 1 outlet first by Japan Times, 11d ago · read ↗

    • thelibbojack.bsky.social

      The fact Donald Trump told his supporters last night to "Cheat like hell" in 2026 election BUT that isn't the headline nationwide shows you again how corporate media is complicit. Post Anything Here: InteractInk.com

      thelibbojack.bsky.socialBluesky11d ago969▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 10 posts in this stretch
    • ZhiZhu@newsie.social

      "Trump led his fans in a bizarre pledge at the # Republican midterm convention in Dallas Thurs night. “Please raise your right hand. I pledge, to the greatest president in the history of the United States, that loves us so much he can’t even breathe, that I will go out with my family, my friends, I’ll do it any way, I don’t care if I’m registered…

      ZhiZhu@newsie.socialMastodon11d ago6▲view on Mastodon ↗

    • You have no sympathy for the suffering of innocent children - you even enjoy their suffering - because their parents made poor decisions? You sick fuck. Don't reply to me again.

      ctothelr/politics11d agoview on r/politics ↗
    all of them →
  4. 4

    Critics and Democrats condemn the pledge as election-fraud rhetoric

    Outlets and commentators noted Trump has previously called for prison for election 'cheaters' and pushed unfounded fraud claims; critics called the pledge a cult-like loyalty oath and tied it to reports the administration was pressing states to hand over voter rolls.

    • pbsnews.org

      After President Donald Trump told attendees at the Republican midterm convention Thursday night that "we want honesty in our elections," he led them in a pledge to "cheat like hell" and "go out and vote" in the midterm elections.

      pbsnews.orgBluesky12d ago252▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 10 posts in this stretch

    • Trump told the crowd at Trumpapalooza, "If you don't vote, you go to hell." He got that wrong as usual. It is more like if you suppress votes so people can't vote, you go to hell. Trump is definitely going to hell. #DemsUnited

      @FeistyLibLadyX12d ago92▲view on X ↗
    • georgetakei@universeodon.com

      When people show you who they are, believe them. https://www. comicsands.com/trump-conventio n-cheat-like-hell?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=infeed&utm_campaign=linkprogram

      georgetakei@universeodon.comMastodon12d ago20▲view on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  5. 3

    NY Times headlines the speech as Trump being 'a bit tired of politics'

    The New York Times' account of the convention's finale, bylined Katie Rogers, framed the event under the headline 'Trump's Grand Midterm Convention Finale: "I'm a Little Bit Tired of Politics,"' without foregrounding the 'cheat like hell' pledge.

    “I pledge to the greatest president in the history of the United States, that loves us so much he can't even breathe, that I will go out with my family, my friends, I'll do it any way – I don't care if I'm registered or not, I'm going to try to cheat like hell like they do.”
    — Donald Trump, U.S. President · source

    1. 2 outlets first by Mastodon, 9d ago · also Techdirt · read ↗

    2. 2 outlets Trump’s grand midterm convention finale: ‘I’m a little bit tired of politics’

      first by Philadelphia Inquirer, 12d ago · also NYT

    • forbes.com

      While leading a pledge at GOP’s convention, Trump baselessly accused the Democrats of cheating and quiped his supporters should vote even if they are not registered.

      forbes.comBluesky13d ago52▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 4 posts in this stretch

    • ‘Cheat Like Hell’: Trump Makes GOP Convention Attendees Pledge To Vote In Bizarre Moment https://www. forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/ 2026/09/11/cheat-like-hell-trump-makes-gop-convention-attendees-pledge-to-vote-in-bizarre-moment/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into Breaking News @ breaking-news-forbes

      forbes@flipboard.comMastodon13d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    • verdantsquare@mastodon.world

      From AP: Trump asks GOP convention crowd to swear they’ll vote in November https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=9KxlNMiCno U&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon * VSN-GDPM c1996 # news # SupportIndependentMedia # vsn

      verdantsquare@mastodon.worldMastodon12d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  6. 2

    Trump leads RNC crowd in pledge to 'cheat like hell'

    Closing the two-day Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Trump asked the crowd to raise their right hands and repeat a pledge of allegiance to him that included vowing to vote regardless of registration status and to 'cheat like hell like they do,' after earlier saying 'we want honesty in our elections.'

    1. 5 outlets first by Mastodon, 12d ago · also New Republic, Forbes, Al Jazeera, PBS NewsHour · read ↗

    2. 3 outlets ‘I’m on the ticket’: Trump implores Republicans to vote in November at unusual midterm convention

      first by Mastodon, 13d ago · also Anadolu Agency, Guardian

      1 more headline
    9 more claims →

    • Trump asks GOP convention crowd to pledge to vote and even ‘cheat like hell’ https://www. cnn.com/2026/09/10/politics/vi deo/trump-vote-pledge-digvid?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into Politics @ politics-CNN

      CNN@flipboard.comMastodon13d ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 4 posts in this stretch
    • GetMisch@masto.nyc

      By now we know he spoke 1 hr 45 min, w/o the talking points these interviewed (anon) GOP stakeholders wanted: "When Republicans go spend a bunch of money to go to a convention... They’re going to see politicians doing politics & not taking care of them at home." and "If the convention is able to show relief at the grocery store & the gas pump…

      GetMisch@masto.nycMastodon13d agoview on Mastodon ↗

    • The president ordered supporters to raise their right hands, proclaim him the greatest president in history, and promise to “cheat like hell” before warning nonvoters that they would “go to hell.”

      meidastouch@threads.netMastodon13d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  7. 1 day quiet
  8. 1

    Politico reports Trump wants GOP to treat him as on the ballot

    Ahead of the convention, Politico reported that Trump, who is not himself running, was pushing Republicans to campaign as though he were on the November ballot.

    1. 2 outlets Trump isn't on the ballot. He wants Republicans to pretend he is.

      first by Politico, 15d ago · also The National UAE

      1 more headline
    2. 1 outlet Trump Wants Voters to Pretend He's on the Ballot

      first by The Nation, 12d ago

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 3 outlets ‘It’s a cult’: Trump ignites outrage after MAGA Republicans pledge haunting oath to him

    first by Cleveland.com, 12d ago · also PennLive, MassLive

and 8 smaller pieces

What people are saying 11 voices from 3 sites · best of 29 · verbatim

Still unanswered
  • Why did major outlets like the New York Times not lead with the 'cheat like hell' line?
  • Will any Republican officials or state attorneys general respond publicly to the pledge?