The democrats and friendly media have done that to every Republican President in my memory since Reagan (I don't go back any further). Some of the biggest mistakes Republicans have made in that time have been trying to make deals with Democrats or trying to appease the media.
This. It's the one thing I liked about Trump during the primary. There were a number of people running on the Republican ticket that I liked more. He has grown on me on some other issues, but still the thing I like about him the most is that he fights back against the media. I didn't like any of the last Republican presidents or nominees since Reagan, and there were things I didn't like about him. Reagan did occasionally fight back, he did it less directly. None since him have. Republican voters want that, they know the mainstream media has forced Republicans to make bad decisions, lied about them and directly supported Democrats for a long time.
There was even a flash of this during the McCain campaign, for all her faults Palin did fight back against the media and was excoriated for it. McCain was not well supported by the non-beltway type Republican's. He got a lot of populist boost from Palin, but then didn't back her and let the media do what they do. Of course McCain was a product of and collaborator with the media so he was never going to actually stand on any principles, reason I detested that man even before his nomination, but that was an early indicator that someone like Trump could energize that base that was fed up with squishy Republicans. McCain and Romney being exhibit A & B, but both Bush's and a lot of others from local to national just like them.
