BREAKING: CNN Condemns Donald Trump for Inciting Violence Against Himself
Butler, PA - In a shocking turn of events, former President Donald Trump has been condemned by CNN and other media outlets for allegedly inciting violence against himself during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania this weekend.
Moments after Trump took the stage in front of a cheering crowd, the sound of gunfire erupted, sending the former president and his supporters into a panic. Trump was quickly ushered off stage by Secret Service with an apparent wound to his ear.
In the aftermath, CNN's pundits were quick to point fingers, suggesting that Trump's fiery rhetoric and continued false claims about the 2020 election being "stolen" from him had somehow provoked the attack.
"This is exactly the kind of political violence we've been warning about," said CNN anchor Jake Tapper. "Trump's choice to stand on an elevated stage made him an easy target. This is clearly his fault.”
Tapper added: “He should be ashamed of himself."
Anchor Kaitlan Collins also slammed the president. “It was already bad enough that he made those people riot at the Capitol building,” she said. “Now he is actively encouraging people to shoot him in response to his incendiary rhetoric.”
Other CNN analysts echoed similar sentiments, with one going so far as to claim that Trump had "basically asked to be shot" due to his polarizing rhetoric.
Host Brianna Keilar suggested that how the former president spoke could have sparked the shooting. “The volume of Trump's voice clearly agitated the shooter. He should lower his tone in the future,” she said.
When reached for comment, the Secret Service confirmed that the shooter, who was neutralized at the scene, appeared to have deliberately targeted the former president. However, they refrained from speculating on the shooter's motives or any potential connection to Trump's rhetoric.
MSNBC’s Joy Reid also chimed in. “This president radicalized this impressionable young man with his racist and hateful rhetoric,” she said during a recent broadcast. “If he doesn’t want people shooting at him, maybe he shouldn’t be such a jerk.”
As the investigation into the shooting continues, CNN has vowed to hold Trump accountable for any role he may have played in provoking the attack against himself.