Want to see something pretty unusual when it comes to American press outfits? On National Review’s homepage at this very moment, you can find writers criticizing Donald Trump (Jim Geraghty for his sleazy pardon of a Chinese-Canadian crypto grifter) and defending him (Noah Rothman over the lefty resistance freakout over Trump’s ballroom plans).
In the last few days, the editors of NR have defended Trump over his ballroom, praised him for his Gaza cease-fire triumph, and offered cautious support for his efforts to secure the Argentine economy. We’ve also criticized the president’s financial claims against the DOJ for damages and urged that Trump not back down from his promise to hold Hamas to its commitment to disarm and return all the bodies of deceased Israeli and American hostages.
We’ve defended Pete Hegseth, and criticized him. We’ve argued that the Trump administration is right on certain cultural issues (returning Columbus Day to its place of prominence) and urged adherence to pro-life principles on others (the White House’s IVF initiative).
At National Review, we see our role as telling the truth to the best of our ability — no matter the consequences — and defending and advancing “the ordered liberty that is necessary to human flourishing and to a free, prosperous, and strong America.” Indeed, that’s our very mission statement. If you value the work NR does, and the role we play, please consider giving as part of our fall webathon.
Over the last week, the freakout over Donald Trump’s decision to build a ballroom on the grounds of the White House has been a sight to behold — and a telling one. Does the left not realize that you are, in fact, allowed to think that your political opponents might have a good idea every once in a while?
At NR, you’re not going to get unbridled partisan criticism one way or another. When we think Trump has good ideas — buying Greenland, securing the border, rolling back the trans hysteria, etc. — we’ll tell you, and explain our reasoning. When we think he’s on the wrong path, we’ll tell you that, too.
If that’s not your cup of tea, there are plenty of options just a click or two away that will take you to press outfits that have universal Trump praise — or universal Trump criticism. If you think that Trump is going to get a fair hearing in the pages of CNN or the Bulwark, or alternatively, Gateway Pundit — well, it’s a free country. But if you value NR’s conservative journalism, if you value NR’s efforts to stay sane, see through the noise, and find the facts, we’d appreciate your support.
Everything we do here is for you, our readers and subscribers. But what we do is not free. It costs money — real money — to run our operation, print the magazine, pay our writers and reporters, and keep the website going. And it’s no exaggeration at all to say that we couldn’t do it without you. (Contrary to the persistent rumors since the Sixties, we are not, in fact, a lavishly-funded CIA front operation!)
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As we celebrate NR’s 70th anniversary in November, I’d like to tell you all: thank you!
