Staff Reports
Once again, the so-called “mainstream media” finds itself in a peculiar bind, struggling to explain the latest assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump without sounding like political partisans. With both Trump and the media in the hot seat, it seems easier to blame the former president for inciting political unrest rather than asking the essential question: why is the media so determined to paint him as the villain?
In the latest twist, the second assassination attempt on Trump took place just two months after he narrowly avoided gunfire at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. These near-misses unfolded as he gears up for another presidential run, leaving those on the left to try to pin blame squarely on his shoulders. MSNBC’s Alex Witt hinted at potential “political fallout,” while her colleague Elise Jordan suggested that both Republicans and Democrats should consider “toning down the rhetoric.” It’s ironic that those who often amplify divisive language are now searching for a “unity moment”—perhaps they can find that while searching for a unicorn too.
Trump's would-be assassin used the leftist media's favorite phrase: "Democracy is on the ballot."
The media are blaming Donald Trump for his second assassination attempt and taking no responsibility for their own dangerous rhetoric. pic.twitter.com/5BbedNzGMd
— MRC NewsBusters (@newsbusters) September 16, 2024
The media loves to parade its narrative: Trump is an “existential threat to democracy.” According to these anchors, it’s his fiery rhetoric that’s supposedly turning political discourse into a minefield. Not to be outdone, NBC’s Lester Holt argued that recent bomb threats somehow connect to Trump and his running mate Senator J.D. Vance’s comments about Haitian immigrants. It must be comforting for him to ignore the disastrous policies currently shaping immigration. Meanwhile, CNN jumped on the bandwagon by claiming that Trump’s on-stage remarks are stoking violence. Since when did taking a firm stance on an issue equate to incitement? The media’s logic appears to be as lost as a tourist in a foreign land.
Interestingly, Trump himself didn’t waste time connecting dots, pointing fingers at President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their roles in this chaos. Their rhetoric has often labeled him as a threat, which, Trump argues, contributes to the environment that leads to attempts on his life. The media, with its constant drumbeat of bias, fails to recognize the irony in their narrative. By fanning the flames of “Trump as the villain,” they inadvertently become accomplices in creating the environment they claim to deplore.
It’s almost comical how the same press that has lumped Trump and his supporters into a single category of “dangerous rhetoric” can shift gears to contemplate their own role in this unfolding drama. The notion that voices like those of Rep. Jasmine Crockett or former FBI agents could influence perceptions of the former president certainly raises an eyebrow, given their own penchant for inflammatory statements.
So where does this all leave Trump? Caught in the media’s crosshairs, he continues his march toward the presidency, while the establishment scratches its collective head, trying to make sense of everything. Anyone watching could easily conclude that while the media expresses outrage at threats of violence, it has no qualms about employing hyperbole whenever it deems necessary. The question remains: when will the media take accountability for the part it plays in this ongoing saga? The antics are as endless as they are outrageous, proving again that in the land of political theater, truth is often the first casualty.
