In 1985, when North and South premiered on television, the Civil War miniseries soap opera was ratings gold. It remains the seventh-highest rated miniseries in TV history thanks to the good looks of Patrick Swayze (Confederate) and James Read (Yankee). One year later, when Part Two premiered, its ratings were equally as successful.

My friends and I swooned over Swayze and Read and, in our best New York accents, imitated a southern drawl with, “We’re at war-uh!”

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War is bloody hell, as most rational people know, and you want to avoid one at all costs—unless you are the media, because, for them, war sells. And that is how President Trump was able to get the networks to give him 18 primetime minutes (supposed to be 15, but no one was going to interrupt our commander-in-chief) to talk about America declaring war on Venezuela…NOT!

Networks hate giving presidents of either party commercial-free airtime unless they think there will be breaking news. From the Associated Press:

Network leaders notably rejected Obama in 2014 when he wanted to talk about immigration policy while Congress was at an impasse over the matter.

[…]

In 2022, Biden spoke at length on his concerns about American democracy — but several networks did not carry his remarks from Philadelphia. By itself, the topic could be framed as a national concern above partisanship. Biden’s effort, though, was complicated by the fact that he was talking about Trump and Trump’s supporters who ransacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, at a time when they were being investigated and prosecuted.

Thanks to the mentally unstable Tucker Carlson (nicknamed Tucker Qatarlson by many because of his growing immense love for Qatar), the networks gave President Donald J. Trump prime time on December 17 to discuss war…but to their chagrin, it was how the Trump administration is winning the war on affordability.

It all started on the morning of December 17, when Tucker Carlson was on Judge Andrew Napalitano’s podcast. Carlson said that Trump is likely to announce WAR with Venezuela that night during his address to the nation.

Judge Andrew Napolitano: Is Trump going to start a war in Venezuela?

[…]

Tucker Carlson: Here’s what I know so far, which is that members of Congress were briefed yesterday [Tuesday] that a war is coming, and it’ll be announced in the address to the nation tonight at 9:00 by the president. […] A member of Congress told me that this morning.

What network or cable news wants to miss a speech where an American president declares war? None! And that’s why they all gave up premium time, believing that President Trump would be making a historic announcement.

Some reporters quickly went to their sources to confirm what Carlson just said. Carlson, known for his frequent anti-Christian and anti-Jewish comments, had often claimed the United States would be starting World War III. Their sources said Carlson was wrong (as he usually is).

However, by this time, the legacy and cable networks had already committed to and promoted President Trump’s evening speech to the American people. All they could do was hope that President Trump, who often makes many unexpected comments, might declare “war-uh” on some nation. Maybe Venezuela. Or perhaps Greenland. Maybe all of Europe!

Then it was time for the speech! Network executives and those suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome waited and waited and waited through 18 minutes only to hear The Donald talk about the mess that President AutoPen left for him to clean up, listing many administration affordability successes to date with more to come in 2026.

Michael Knowles put it best:

He (Trump) pulled a war-in-Venezuela fake out to make the networks broadcast all his first-year wins in prime time, all in front of cozy Christmas decorations at the White House. Simply the best media manipulator ever to hold the office.

Glad the United States is not at war-uh!

Robin M. Itzler is a regular contributor to American Thinker. She is the founder and editor of Patriot Neighbors, a free weekly national newsletter, and can be reached at [email protected].