Why did many Americans believe there was a credibility gap?

Many Americans believed there was a credibility gap during the Vietnam War due to stark discrepancies between the government's optimistic claims about the war's progress and the grim realities reported by soldiers and media. High-profile incidents, like the Tet Offensive and the My Lai Massacre, further eroded public trust, as they contradicted official narratives. This growing doubt was exacerbated by the release of the Pentagon Papers, which revealed that the government had misled the public about the war's scope and intentions. As a result, skepticism towards government statements became widespread, contributing to a broader sense of disillusionment.