I don't think I ever saw the main stream media state Trump was lying the first 2yrs of his term

[captain queeg]

Finally, nowadays after 15,000 or so lies, they use that word. It always pissed me off they wouldn’t just come out and call him a liar right away. And that SOB has the gall to claim he’s been treated unfairly.

[Tiggeroshii]

1. I've seen it a couple times.

But not nearly as much as I should

[elleng]

2. Right, they only picked it up recently.

[mopinko]

3. lawrence o'donnell has called him that from day one, and made note of how few others did.

they did start doing it regularly at least a year ago, but they still dont use it enough.
they continue to push the fiction that he might actually think.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. Well, start with the idea that most media knew him as a bullshitter from day one and a master...

gishgalloper from day two.

Seasoned reporters were used to seeing newbies (are they still called "cubs"?) start their trial by fire running into the city editor's office with a Trump "scoop". The editor would gently (or not...) get rid of said reporter telling him, or her, to kill it since it's just Trump with his daily bullshit. TDB is only run on a slow news day, or if it's really abut someone who is not trump.

It's not surprising that much of the media didn't challenge Trump in the beginning. Every President has been offered a grace period and gotten as good press as possible. How long the grace period is depend on many things, not just rating, subscription rates and ad revenue.

Besides, if you are honest about your job, it's really difficult to accuse the President of being a bald-faced liar on a regular basis and keep your credibility.

Nothing lasts, however, and Trump has discovered this means of maintaining of power. In his case, it means overusing it to the point of making it a joke.