Left-wing media outlets downplayed the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania during a campaign rally on Saturday.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, a gunman, later identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired several shots at the former president. A bullet grazed Trump’s ear. Three bystanders were reportedly shot, with one, fifty-year-old Corey Comperatore, dying from his injuries. The remaining two are listed in critical condition.
The initial media reaction, at least in terms of breaking headlines, appeared to miss the mark completely.
“Secret Service rushes Trump off stage after he falls at rally,” read one hit by CNN.
The Washington Post published a breaking update titled “Trump escorted away after loud noises at Pa. rally.”
The image The Washington Post chose to use was one of the now infamous images of a bloodied Trump defiantly raising a fist.
“Loud noises” seemed to be the phrase of the moment, with the Associated Press posting, “Donald Trump has been escorted off the stage by Secret Service during a rally after loud noises ring out in the crowd.”
Even The Dallas Morning News got in on the act.
“Donald Trump whisked off stage in Pennsylvania after loud noises rang through the crowd,” read DMN’s tweet of its breaking news story.
The following morning, a couple of print media outlets also missed the mark, purportedly minimizing the historic attempt to kill the leading presidential candidate.
The Sunday Denver Post ran the headline “GUNMAN DIES IN ATTACK,” being sure to note, “Trump says he was shot in ear.”
Another outlet seemed to think Sunday’s front-page lead should be about marijuana.
“The Perfect Place to Grow Cannabis,” reads The Arizona Republic’s Sunday edition. The attempted assassination of Trump only got a bar at the top of the front page.