Media kept bias on full display after Trump assassination attempt
The assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump that played out live on national television should have resulted in the kind of objective, unbiased coverage the country deserved at such a terrifying moment.
Some outlets, however, failed the test miserably.
Take these headlines, for example, in the immediate aftermath:
CNN: “Secret Service Rushes Trump Off Stage After He Falls at Rally”
Associated Press: “Donald Trump Has Been Escorted Off The Stage During A Rally After Loud Noises Ring Out In The Crowd”
The New York Times: “Trump Hurt, But Safe, After A Shooting”
Forbes: “Will Surviving Gunfire Be Donald Trump’s Next Appeal To Black Voters?”
Politico: “In wake of the rally shooting, GOP officials have been quick to blame Democrats for demonizing Trump”
There’s more, but you get the idea.
Needless to say, it was abundantly clear that Trump had been shot once he was brought to his feet by Secret Service agents about one minute after being hit.
Shots could be heard before he crouched down to take cover.
His visibly injured ear had splashed bright red blood across his face that was clear to see, even at a distance.
Yet we had CNN initially reporting he had fallen?
How about the Times and Politico calling this “a shooting” instead of an assassination attempt?
How about Forbes wondering, just hours after the attack, if it would make Trump more appealing to black voters?
And Politico, scolding Republicans for seizing and pouncing on Democrats, angry that they and their allies in the media have referred to Trump as Hitler for eight years?
Margaret Brennan of CBS News, the former home of Walter Cronkite, even managed to victim-blame Trump for nearly getting killed, after reading a statement from the former president thanking the Secret Service and describing what had happened.
“I did notice there was no call for lowering the temperature, condemning all political violence, and really trying to signal to his supporters as well, not to retaliate or to have any kind of escalation here,” was Brennan’s immediate reaction.
There are no words.
It somehow got worse over on ABC News Sunday morning during a conversation between George Stephanopoulos and Martha Raddatz, who fancy themselves as serious journalists.
“President Trump and his supporters have contributed to this violent rhetoric as well,” Stephanopoulos, Bill Clinton’s former attack dog, argued.
“Absolutely, George,” Raddatz concurred.
“And let’s remember Jan. 6,” she added.
Many of us will recall forever the iconic moment when a bloodied Trump, surrounded by his Secret Service detail, pumped his fist at the crowd and urged them to “Fight. Fight. Fight.”
It was emblematic of Trump’s toughness and determination and defiance, even after taking a bullet to the ear just one minute earlier.
But on CNN, this was seen as a big no-no, even as the horrific scene was unfolding.
“That’s not the message that we want to being sending right now,” CNN’s Jamie Gangel chided the wounded candidate. “We want to tamp it down.”
Yes: The network that has endlessly attacked Trump as a racist, fascist demagogue seeking to destroy democracy was lecturing him just seconds after he was a millimeter away from being murdered.
For these outlets, there’s no coming back from this.
Their rhetoric has been building for years without any accountability.
Media figures’ most hyperbolic and personal and dishonest attacks on Trump have not only cost them no consequences, but have probably brought them raises and promotions with each new contract.
As for President Biden and his speechwriters, they have helped foment this deadly environment.
Here’s what the president said on July 8: “We’re done talking about the debate, it’s time to put Trump in a bullseye.”
Here’s the latest on the assassination attempt against Donald Trump:
Would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks visited gun range dozens of times — including Christmas — for ‘intense preparation’- Newly surfaced texts show Trump rally gunman was on authorities’ radar more than 90 minutes before shooting: report
- FBI to conduct victim interview with Donald Trump after assassination attempt
- Ex-Trump doc says FBI’s Wray is ‘wrong’ to doubt ex-prez was struck by bullet: ‘Absolutely no evidence’
- Trump defends female Secret Service agent who was criticized after assassination attempt: ‘So brave’
Last year, Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) expressed a similar sentiment when he spoke to Jen Paski on MSNBC.
“That man [Trump] cannot see public office again,” Goldman said. “He has to be eliminated.”
Psaki — Biden’s former press secretary — offered no pushback.
Any questions?
A former president, likely to be the next president, was shot on Saturday.
It’s a miracle he survived the attempt.
What won’t survive is any last shred of credibility many in our media ever had.
Joe Concha is a Fox News contributor and bestselling author.