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The News Outlets That Offered the Worst Trump Assassination Attempt Coverage

Brad Slager
Brad Slager  |  Sep 16, 2024
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With a second attempt on the life of Donald Trump, we have been treated to all manner of media dysfunction.

Artisanally-Crafted Narratives – NBC NEWS

  • It is not a pattern from the left, is what you are saying...?

Lester Holt looked at the second attempt on the life of Donald Trump and came to the conclusion that…Trump is to blame?!

Yes, that is the measurement from NBC's lead anchor. He was incapable of simply reporting on the assassination attempt, Holt had to invoke Trump's rhetoric about Springfield, Ohio, as leading to this attack.

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We feel the need to inform Mr. Holt that this attempt was not enacted by a citizen of Springfield, not by a Haitian individual, nor by an immigrant either legal or illegal. This is a disturbing approach by anyone, let alone a member of the esteemed media class.

Presentation Paradox – MSNBC

  • Now, if rhetoric is dangerous, that means what, kids?

Also adding to the victim blaming was Alex Witt, who thought she was being insightful and helping by suggesting the Trump campaign should tone down the rhetoric. She said this on MSNBC.

Just a reminder (not for this audienc, but for Ms. Witt) that this is the network that has repeatedly been broadcasting opinions from pundits and guests that Donald Trump is a fascist, a Nazi, poses a direct threat to our democracy, that he will bring an end to free elections, and will even arrest and execute his political opponents.

Annnnnnd…it is Trump who needs to start shutting up and cooling down his rhetoric.

News Avoidance Syndrome – TIME MAGAZINE

  • Oh, so NOW you are hesitant to accuse the motives of a shooter?

Think back to most any time there is a shooting incident and how quickly the press had been to assess blame and motives behind the violence. Now, however, when the Republican candidate for the presidency has been targeted for the second time in months, TIME Magazine finds that there is a gauzy explanation behind the inspiration for this attempt on his life.

Gilded Reframe – POLITICO

  • Those damned Republicans dare to be outraged about an attempted murder!

Note how many members of the press have been quick to lash out at Trump and his campaign over this shooting. Now, we have Politico determining that it is either unseemly or unique that Republicans are commenting on this with anger. Imagine! We are even told that those on the right commenting on this event "struck ominous tones" in discussing it. It would seem that all people regardless of affiliation should be concerned and angry about this, but apparently, the Republicans have crossed some sort of line of comportment:

Denunciations of political violence from across the political spectrum quickly gave way to partisan finger-pointing. Republicans immediately seized on the incident…to again accuse Democrats of endangering Trump by casting the GOP nominee as a threat to democracy.

Pounce of Prevention – WASHINGTON POST

  • It alsmost sounds like Republicans noticing are worse than a person committing attempted murder.

Leave it to the master of obliviousness at the Washington Post – Philip Bump – to come out with one of the "Republicans pounce" offerings:

Trumpworld is eager to have Americans blame his opponents’ rhetoric for assassination attempts — both to nullify their arguments and to cast Trump as a victim. Even the less extreme iteration of blaming Democrats for Routh’s actions, though, are politically useful for Trump. There is a fundamental dishonesty to it, of course. Trump and his allies seek unilateral disarmament, the ability to bemoan Democratic criticisms of Trump as unacceptable and immoral while shrugging at what Trump himself says.

Low-Octane Gaslighting – CINCINATTI ENQUIRER

  • The amazement is in how quickly this garbage was belched out.

The local paper in Cincinatti came out with a rapid response column on the assassination attempt. You see, Trump almost was killed on that golf course because – well, he brought it on himself.