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Just attended my first @realDonaldTrump rally where my colleague BBC cameraman Rob Skeans was attacked by a Trump supporter. The crowd had been whipped up into a frenzy against the media by Trump and other speakers all night #TrumpElPasopic.twitter.com/Oiw8osPms3
A brief history of Trump directly and indirectly encouraging violence against the media and political opponentsTrump is no stranger to casually talking about violence against his opponents.
During a rally in December 2015, he joked about killing journalists while defending Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose government has reportedly been involved in murdering dissident journalists.
In the months that followed, Trump repeatedly encouraged his fans to beat up protesters at his rallies, even going as far as to promise on two different occasions to pay their legal bills if they were charged with crimes.
With the exception of applauding police for roughing up gang members and his comments about Gianforte, Trump hasn’t been as explicit about encouraging violence since taking office. But he has of course repeatedly referred to the “Fake News Media” as “crazed lunatics” and “the enemy of the people,” including as recently as Wednesday — the same day Hasson was arrested.
“I would never kill them,” Trump said, alluding to reporters, before seemingly reconsidering his statement. “Ahh ... let’s see... well ... no, I wouldn’t. I would never kill them. But I do hate them. And some of them are such lying, disgusting people.”
Statements like that one aren’t direct threats, but there’s evidence some Trump supporters interpret them as a call for action. For instance, days after Trump praised Gianforte for assaulting Jacobs, someone began sending bombs to prominent Trump critics in politics and the news media.
While the charges against Hasson indicate that his violent tendencies and extremism predate Trump’s political rise, there are indications that he was influenced by Trump’s rhetoric. The hit list he had of prominent Dems and media figures referred to Elizabeth Warren as “poca warren,” a description that appears to be shorthand for the slur Trump regularly uses for her. According to authorities, Hasson also Googled phrases like “what if trump illegally impeached” and “civil war if trump impeached.”
Trump briefly paused his speech, but resumed his attacks on the media minutes later. His fans responded with “CNN sucks!” chants.
The president still hadn’t commented on Hasson’s arrest as of Friday afternoon. He was finally asked about it during a question-and-answer session during an event at the White House, and denied any responsibility.
“I think my language is very nice,” Trump said when asked if he thinks he should moderate his language.
On February 12, a BBC camera operator was assaulted by a man wearing a MAGA hat at Trump’s first political rally of 2019. After attacking the camera operator, the assailant yelled, “Fuck the media!”
Trump briefly paused his speech, but resumed his attacks on the media minutes later. His fans responded with “CNN sucks!” chants.
The president still hadn’t commented on Hasson’s arrest as of Friday afternoon. He was finally asked about it during a question-and-answer session during an event at the White House, and denied any responsibility.
“I think my language is very nice,” Trump said when asked if he thinks he should moderate his language.
Trump didn’t even condemn Hasson’s actions, instead characterizing the situation as “a shame.”
“I think it’s a very sad thing when a thing like that happens,” he added.
