Ladies and gentlemen, brace yourselves for a dramatic and unsettling update from the political front. On July 13, former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Shots were fired from a nearby rooftop, with one bullet grazing Trump’s right ear. He was quickly taken to the hospital, where he was treated and subsequently discharged. In a statement following the attack, Trump thanked the Secret Service and law enforcement for their swift actions and extended condolences to a rally attendee who was tragically killed in the crossfire.
— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) July 14, 2024
However, the reaction from some corners of the media has sparked significant controversy. CBS News’ Margaret Brennan expressed dissatisfaction with Trump’s remarks, criticizing him for not calling for a de-escalation of tensions among his supporters. This perspective suggests a level of tone-deafness, as it appears to blame Trump even in the wake of an assassination attempt against him.
Trump’s just been shot, and CBS anchor Margaret Brennan disparages him for not telling his followers to lower the temperature. Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/97R2FG97gG
— Tim Graham (@TimJGraham) July 14, 2024
Samantha Vinograd, speaking to sources within the intelligence community, voiced concerns that this incident might be used to incite further attacks against the Biden campaign. Brennan added that it is dangerous to prematurely link the shooter’s motives to the government, emphasizing the need for caution in such a volatile situation. Vinograd also labeled the expansion of these opinions as “unpatriotic,” warning of a “cauldron of tensions” brewing in the current political climate.
On CBS, Margaret Brennan and Samantha Vinograd talk up “retaliatory violence” from right-wingers, and then we hear of January 6. Knew this line was coming…. pic.twitter.com/JO9572UlXn
— Tim Graham (@TimJGraham) July 14, 2024
The media’s response has drawn sharp criticism for its perceived bias and insensitivity. The notion that Trump’s shooting could incite violence against Democrats has been dismissed by critics as baseless and inflammatory. They argue that the media, having been wrong on significant issues like the Russian collusion narrative, Hunter Biden’s laptop, and COVID-19 coverage, lacks the credibility to make such assertions. The suggestion that the assassination attempt would lead to retaliatory violence against the Biden campaign is viewed by some as an exaggeration, disconnected from reality.
The legacy media’s behavior over the past 8 yrs already caused a cratering of public trust. But tonight is a new low. I’ve never seen such a failure of the media complex to accurately & honestly report the facts of such a momentous breaking news event. https://t.co/sxuT5yP63S
— Tom Bevan (@TomBevanRCP) July 14, 2024
The media segment discussing these events has been labeled offensive and out of touch, with critics accusing the liberal media of patronizing tones and unwarranted bravado. They contend that the media often fails to acknowledge their own audience’s potential for unrest while quick to point fingers at Trump’s supporters.
CBS’s Margaret Brennan, out of control: “We want to make clear that this
is something we are reporting…as a historic event…We are very mindful that this kind of event can inspire violence, it can inspire retaliation, and we want no part of that.” #TrumpAssassinationAttempt pic.twitter.com/FOpk9Q3B9U— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) July 14, 2024
In reality, the aftermath of the assassination attempt saw no riots or violent outbreaks. Critics of Brennan’s remarks highlight this point, arguing that it’s the far-left segments that tend to resort to riots and violence, not Trump supporters.
