Donald Trump’s campaign team has defended the Republican candidate for president after he said he would not mind if someone had to “shoot through the fake news” to reach him. Speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania on Sunday, while complaining about the bulletproof glass around him, he said: “To get me, somebody would have to shoot through the fake news – and I don’t mind that so much”.
He also called the media “bloodsuckers”. The attacks on the media are not new. Since arriving on the political scene nearly a decade ago, Trump has sometimes mocked reporters at his rallies.
“I have a piece of glass over here, and I don’t have a piece of glass there. And I have this piece of glass here, but all we have really over here is the fake news,” Trump said on Sunday, pointing out the glass around his lectern.
“And to get me somebody would have to shoot through the fake news. And I don’t mind that so much. I don’t mind that.” Since an assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania in July, the US Secret Service has positioned bulletproof glass around the former president at outdoor rallies.
An audience member was killed at that rally and a bullet grazed the former president’s ear. The Secret Service killed the gunman. The president has previously complained about the new security measures, but Sunday’s rally marked the first time he connected the security measures with his attacks on the press.
Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung later defended the comments, saying they were about the threats made against Trump. “The president’s statement about protective glass placement has nothing to do with the media being harmed, or anything else,” Cheung said.
“It was about threats against him that were spurred on by dangerous rhetoric from Democrats. In fact, President Trump was stating that the media was in danger, in that they were protecting him and, therefore, were in great danger themselves, and should have had a glass protective shield.”
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Trump Campaign’s Defense
In a statement, a campaign spokesperson emphasized that Trump’s words were not meant to incite violence but rather to encourage supporters to “see through and reject misleading narratives” from mainstream media outlets. The spokesperson argued that Trump has long criticized what he views as unfair media portrayals and that his language, while forceful, should be taken in the context of his ongoing battle with “fake news” as he describes it.
Reactions to the Comment
While Trump supporters echoed the campaign’s defense, interpreting his comment as a call to ignore biased reporting, critics voiced concerns about the language. Media watchdog groups and some political figures condemned the comment as irresponsible, arguing that such rhetoric could be misinterpreted or potentially lead to real-world threats against journalists.
A History of Anti-Media Rhetoric
Trump’s contentious relationship with the media is well-documented. Throughout his political career, he has often used pointed language to criticize coverage he finds unfavorable, frequently referring to certain outlets as the “enemy of the people.” Supporters see this as his way of exposing bias, while opponents worry it fuels public distrust in legitimate journalism.
Impact on the 2024 Campaign
As Trump’s campaign for 2024 continues, his use of language is likely to remain in the spotlight. Political analysts suggest that such comments may further energize his core supporters but could alienate undecided voters wary of divisive rhetoric. The campaign, however, appears confident that Trump’s messaging will resonate with those who feel sidelined by traditional media narratives.
In defending his comment, Trump’s campaign has doubled down on its stance against “fake news” as a major issue, positioning it as a key theme in the run-up to the next election. Whether this approach will bolster or hinder his campaign remains to be seen, but the controversy has already underscored the intensity of his media strategy.
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