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Trump Jr. Responds To USA Today

Trump Jr. Responds To USA Today

As RedState has aptly noted, the mainstream media has somehow managed to outdo itself in shamelessness in the wake of the second assassination attempt on Donald Trump within just three months. Instead of rallying around the serious implications of a political figure being targeted twice, certain outlets have opted to push an insidious blame-the-victim narrative.

What’s truly stunning is the suggestion—by multiple sources—that the responsibility for dialing back the rhetoric falls on Trump himself. This, despite the fact that Ryan Routh, the alleged would-be assassin, is reportedly a left-wing extremist. Yet, some in the media have twisted the narrative, invoking Trump’s comments about Springfield, Ohio, to imply that he somehow brought this latest attack on himself.

The Cincinnati Enquirer took things even further by running a reader’s letter that explicitly stated Trump “brings a lot of this stuff on himself.” The letter went on to ask why Americans should continue to fund his security if Trump “can’t keep from lying.” It’s mind-boggling that a mainstream publication would give a platform to this kind of victim-blaming logic. The idea that a former president, who has now been targeted for assassination multiple times, is somehow responsible for these violent acts is beyond reckless.

And then there’s USA Today, which practically buried the assassination attempt, treating it as an afterthought in its coverage. For a news story of this magnitude to not feature prominently above the fold—or even on the front page at some outlets—is a glaring example of how differently the media treats attacks depending on the political affiliation of the target.

It’s impossible to ignore the double standard here. If this were a Democrat facing two assassination attempts in such a short span, there’s no doubt that newsrooms would be running 24/7 coverage, complete with breaking news alerts and emotional panel discussions.

The political leanings of the suspect in this case are not in question. Ryan Routh’s motivations are clearly rooted in left-wing extremism. But for some media organizations, that fact alone seems enough to downplay the seriousness of the situation. They’ve all but signaled that Trump’s life being threatened isn’t as newsworthy because of his “R” next to his name. It’s an outrageous display of bias that fuels distrust in the press—and rightly so.

USA Today and others are contributing to a growing problem. Americans can see the clear favoritism, and it’s a major reason trust in the mainstream media is at historic lows. For those paying attention, this isn’t just a one-off. It’s part of a broader trend where certain news organizations selectively amplify or minimize stories based on whose side of the aisle is being attacked.

What’s most troubling is that the media’s decision to diminish the coverage of these assassination attempts isn’t just a matter of poor editorial choices—it’s a dangerous precedent. When political violence becomes normalized or shrugged off because it happens to the “wrong” side, the message being sent is that some lives are less worthy of protection and concern. This isn’t just a bias problem—it’s a problem for the safety of all political figures moving forward.

Written by Mark Stevens - September 17, 2024