After some obligatory condemnation of the attempted pipe bomb attacks, President Donald Trump and his administration have coalesced behind the idea that the widespread anger turned violence is the media’s fault.
Trump unleashed his opening salvo at a campaign rally in Wisconsin Wednesday night, saying that the media must “stop the endless hostility and constant negativity and oftentimes false attacks and stories” mere hours after an explosive was sent to CNN.
Trump slams media for “hostility” hours after CNN was targeted with an explosive device pic.twitter.com/xMDv9rEOyj
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) October 25, 2018
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders then fell into line, attacking CNN president Jeff Zucker for criticizing the White House’s response to the bombings. She accused him of choosing to “attack and divide” Americans.
Trump sang the same tune Thursday morning, as more potential explosive devices were discovered.
A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News. It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2018