Democratic Congressman Blames Trump’s Rhetoric For ‘Disgusting’ Attack On Guardian Reporter

Following the stunning reported assault of Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs by Montana GOP candidate Greg Gianforte, a Democratic congressman is calling out Trump for creating the environment that encourages such behavior against the media.

In a tweet, Gerry Connolly, the Democrat who represents Virginia’s 11th district, says people shouldn’t be afraid to call out Trump for his contributions to this violence.

Tweet:

Throughout the campaign and during his time in the White House, Trump has repeatedly attacked the media, especially when he’s in front of his supporters at campaign rallies.

In a speech in February, the president called out the media as “the enemy of the people” and the “fake news.”

It’s no surprise then that someone, even a Republican candidate for Congress, would take the president at his word and treat a reporter as an “enemy of the people” by assaulting him for simply asking a reasonable question about health care policy.

Instead of apologizing, despite the audio that shows it was Gianforte who escalated the encounter with Jacobs after being asked a simple question, the Republican candidate – of course – blamed the reporter and called him a “liberal journalist.”

Each time this happens, not only should the perpetrator face legal and political consequences for harming a member of the press, but Trump himself should be held to account for the rhetoric that has motivated such behavior.



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