In a world dominated by noise, I’ve made a choice that may seem small but feels powerful: I’m tuning out of the daily news cycle. This decision isn’t just about protecting my mental health or reclaiming my time (although those are valuable reasons too); it’s an act of defiance, a silent protest against the power dynamics that thrive on our attention.

Donald Trump has built a persona—and arguably, a career—on commanding attention. Every headline, tweet, and soundbite serves to keep him at the center of public consciousness. He relishes in the outrage, the clicks, the non-stop commentary. Like many public figures who play the role of the provocateur, he knows that power doesn’t just come from control; it comes from eyes and ears fixed on him, whether in admiration or disdain.

But what happens when we choose not to engage? When we decide that we don’t need to know every word, every claim, every stunt in real-time? It takes power away from the bully who feeds on attention. He seeks validation through our collective focus; I refuse to give it.

Tuning out of this relentless cycle isn’t an act of ignorance—it’s an act of choice. It’s me saying, “You don’t own my mind or my time.” Trump wants eyeballs. He wants to be the headline, the conversation at the dinner table, the reason you pick up your phone and scroll. But I’m not playing that game. I don’t follow every turn of his rhetoric or the latest bait he dangles. I choose to prioritize my peace, my family, my work, and the things that enrich my life.

This choice is about more than Trump. It’s about rejecting the cycle that empowers all those who thrive on division, spectacle, and the shock value of their words. It’s about recognizing that constant engagement doesn’t lead to action or change—it often leads to burnout, helplessness, and a constant state of frustration.

So, I tune out. I reclaim my focus and energy. And in doing so, I reclaim a little bit of power that would otherwise be spent on someone who doesn’t deserve it. The world is complex, and staying informed is important, but so is deciding when, where, and how I engage with it. And for me, that means Trump doesn’t get my attention. He doesn’t get to be the noise that fills my day.

This is my quiet act of defiance, and it feels liberating.