Popular Culture Review 30.2
basting his opponents , boosted sales by 23 %. “ The readers of the Enquirer voted for Trump ,” Pecker told the New Yorker . “ And 96 percent want him reelected today .” ( Borchers Why para . 6 ).
THE ENQUIRER ATTACKS TRUMP ’ S ENEMIES
No challenger to Trump was safe during the primary . The Enquirer published a story in March 2016 about “ boozin ” Ted Cruz ’ s five mistresses and his father ’ s involvement in John F . Kennedy ’ s assassination ( para . 1 ). When asked about it , Trump said he did not know if it was true , but he did read it in the Enquirer , which had a good reputation . The paper also ran a story about “ bungling ” Ben Carson claiming he left a sponge in a patient ’ s brain . The scandal sheet also ran a story on December 31 , 2015 , titled “ Senator Marco Rubio ’ s cocaine connection ” ( para . 1 ). The celebrity newspaper reported Jeb Bush was a “ dope smoker ” and had an affair with a Playboy bunny ( Suebsaeng para . 6 ).
Far-right publications , talk show hosts , and Trump operatives picked up stories from the Enquirer . The cover of the July 4 , 2016 , edition noted that “ crooked Hillary ,” “ sounds like Obama in a skirt ” ( 1 ). The 15 August 2026 issue , “ Donald Trump ’ s Revenge on Hillary and her Puppets ,” related rumors of mob connections and a gay double life in ( 1 ). A story detailing “ Hillary ’ s Full Medical File ,” appeared in the September 8 , 2016 , issue , an effort to make Clinton ’ s health a campaign issue ( 1 ). The cover picture showed her apparently on the verge of death . The Headline alleged she suffered from muscular dystrophy , Alzheimer ’ s , brain damage , seizures , and strokes . The issue that appeared in supermarkets across the country the day before the election informed shoppers , “ Hillary Blackmailed FBI to Kill Corruption Probe ” ( 1 ).
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