The Guardian’s response to President-elect Donald Trump’s 2024 victory has drawn ridicule after the newspaper offered mental health services to employees distressed by the election results. Editor Katharine Viner described the outcome as “very upsetting” in an email to staff, prompting criticism that the reaction was both overblown and unprofessional.
Among the support measures offered are mental health counseling, virtual wellbeing tools, and access to online doctors for British staff, while U.S. employees have been granted Employee Assistance Programs. Australian staff were even promised professional counseling services. Viner’s dramatic language, including a claim that Trump’s win “could reverberate for a million years,” has fueled widespread mockery.
Traumatised Guardian staff offered counselling.
– Guido Fawkes pic.twitter.com/gwanxXEmG3
— L’anglais, c’est rien que le français, malprononcé (@lefoudubaron) November 7, 2024
Viner urged international employees to reach out to their U.S.-based colleagues to offer emotional support, further cementing the perception that the Guardian is out of touch with the gravity of actual political challenges. Critics argue that providing formal counseling services over an election result highlights the publication’s inability to maintain objectivity or perspective.
The Guardian offers staffers counseling over Donald Trump’s ‘upsetting’ election win.😂
Oh great now the UK is upset 😂😂😂
Katherine Viner, editor-in-chief of The Guardian said her employees can access free mental health support from internal company portals, according to the… pic.twitter.com/hs40JgsDSH
— Denise (@Likeshesays) November 8, 2024
The Guardian also used Trump’s victory to solicit donations, calling for financial contributions to support its mission of “independent journalism.” This approach, reminiscent of its fundraising efforts during Kamala Harris’s 2020 campaign, has led some to question whether the publication is capitalizing on political outrage for profit.
The Guardian has offered its journalists free counseling and mental health support to help them process Donald Trump’s win in the US election, according to an internal email seen by Guido Fawkes, a British political gossip blog
— Dr. Jain (@ncj537) November 8, 2024
The reaction has sparked criticism of left-leaning media’s increasing tendency to treat political losses as personal crises. By focusing on emotional responses rather than journalistic analysis, the Guardian risks alienating readers who expect balanced reporting rather than partisan theatrics.
What marshmellows. Who cares. Now..they're fundraising off of Trump's win..suckering all those brainwashed readers.
Far-Left Guardian Offers Staff Counseling After Trump’s ‘Very Upsetting’ Election Triumph.https://t.co/7Dnx8p8vFy pic.twitter.com/hEubitD4GM
— P. J. Lofland (@pamjlofland) November 7, 2024
For many, the Guardian’s overreaction reflects a broader issue within media organizations that prioritize ideological narratives over journalistic integrity. Offering counseling services for election results, critics say, underscores the disconnect between the media’s priorities and the expectations of the public.
You won’t get a reply from the Guardian either….it seems they are too busy attending counseling sessions after the Trump election…..😂😂
— E Nuffsaid (@ENuffsaid59763) November 8, 2024
