Trump Blames The Media For The Violence That He Caused

President Trump tweeted Thursday that the “mainstream media” is to blame for the anger and incivility in the country’s political discourse.

As his words were posted on social media, packages sent by a likely serial bomber continued to target Trump’s critics.

“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,” the president said in a morning tweet. “It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!”

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Many people were watching television coverage of police in New York City looking for more bombs in Lower Manhattan after receiving reports of a suspicious package at a building which houses the offices of actor Robert De Niro.

The suspicious package was addressed to De Niro, who attacked Trump in June during a controversial speech at the Tony Awards ceremony.

Trump also attacked the media on Wednesday night at a political rally in central Wisconsin. He spoke to his enthusiasitic supporters after hearing the news accounts of several bombs that had been sent to former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, former president Barack Obama and other prominent Democrats and Trump critics.

During his rally speech, Trump stopped several times to point out that he was “trying to be nice,” but he sounded insincere. In addition, he did not take any responsibility for his own probable role in increased violent against minorities, journalists and his political enemies.

“The media also has a responsibility to set a civil tone and to stop the endless hostility and constant negative — and oftentimes, false — attacks and stories,” Trump lamented at the rally.

Trump also took a shot at Democrats who he said “carelessly compare political opponents to historical villains” and who “mob people in public places or destroy public property.”

For several years Trump has made the media a target of his attacks, and has denounced the free press as the “enemy of the people.”

One of the crude bombs was found Wednesday at CNN’s New York headquarters, addressed to Obama CIA director John O. Brennan. He has been an fierce and outspoken critic of Trump since leaving office. On Thursday, Brennan responded to Trump’s tweet with a scathing tweet of his own.

“Stop blaming others,” Brennan said. “Look in the mirror. Your inflammatory rhetoric, insults, lies, & encouragement of physical violence are disgraceful. Clean up your act. … try to act Presidential. The American people deserve much better. BTW, your critics will not be intimidated into silence.”

Leo Vidal

I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.