Donald Trump’s recent remarks suggesting he “wouldn’t mind” if someone had to “shoot through the fake news” to get to him at a Pennsylvania rally have sparked widespread condemnation, especially as they come in the final days before the presidential election. Trump’s comments, directed at the gathered press corps, led to laughter and applause from his supporters, signaling a dangerous normalization of violent rhetoric against journalists. This rally was just one instance in an escalating series of threats, both implicit and explicit, that Trump has directed at the media. His words have reignited fears for the safety of journalists and the future of a free press in the United States.
Trump has long maintained a contentious relationship with the media, often labeling journalists “the enemy of the people.” This latest rally comment, however, struck a particularly alarming chord as it goes beyond mere criticism or disdain. Trump’s words about shooting through journalists come as he seeks to appeal to a voter base increasingly supportive of authoritarian tendencies and hostile to the press. His rally audience laughed and applauded in response to his comment, a reaction that illustrates the deepening divide over the role of a free press in American democracy.
Trump says he doesn't mind if someone shoots the press.
— Melanie D'Arrigo (@DarrigoMelanie) November 3, 2024
He repeatedly encourages violence against anyone who challenges his narrative.
That's what a dictator does — and Trump's Supreme Court gave him immunity to do whatever he wants if re-elected.
Votepic.twitter.com/W0dUWro2g9
Journalist Jeff Sharlet, who has spent years covering “the fascism beat,” responded to Trump’s comments by highlighting the potential dangers this rhetoric encourages. Sharlet noted he has encountered men “itching for that encouragement,” who openly fantasize about using violence against reporters. “It’s not a joke,” Sharlet stated bluntly. “It’s fascism.” Trump’s remarks arrive at a time when violent rhetoric is on the rise in America, and public sentiment toward the press has turned increasingly hostile.
Trump campaign response to him saying he wouldn't mind someone shooting through the press:
— Jake Traylor (@jake__traylor) November 3, 2024
Says Trump was "brilliantly talking" and was actually trying to help protect the media? https://t.co/9N6pC43H0t pic.twitter.com/SHcqRzrNXf
This is not the first time Trump has used hostile language toward the press. Since his initial presidential campaign, Trump has consistently referred to the media as the “enemy of the people,” a term that has emboldened his supporters to harass journalists at rallies and on social media. His animosity toward the press has only intensified over time, with both rallies and online posts featuring attacks on individual journalists, media organizations, and entire sectors of the news industry.
Trump confidant Kash Patel has echoed this sentiment, making it clear that a second Trump administration would likely target the press formally. Earlier this year, Patel indicated a potential crackdown on the media through civil or criminal charges. This indication, paired with Trump’s own words, poses an alarming threat to press freedom in the United States and highlights the importance of addressing this inflammatory rhetoric before it escalates further.
When asked to clarify Trump’s comments, his campaign attempted to downplay the significance of his remarks. Campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung claimed Trump was “looking out for [reporters’] welfare” and implying that media members should have protective barriers. This defense was widely criticized as “absurd,” as Trump’s tone and choice of words clearly did not suggest concern for the press’s safety.
For years, prominent members of Trump’s circle and other Republican leaders have followed suit in targeting the media. This campaign has gone beyond rhetoric, with influential GOP leaders either endorsing Trump’s attacks on the media or choosing to remain silent. As Jeff Sharlet pointed out, Trump’s violent rhetoric is anything but a joke—it is fascism in practice. His comments encourage his base to view journalists, and the information they share, as suspect or even dangerous to their preferred political outcomes.
Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, has only intensified his anti-media stance. Through posts that attack journalists and media organizations, Truth Social serves as a rallying point for Trump supporters to vilify the press. The platform has become an amplifier for disinformation, leading to hostility against journalists who cover Trump critically. Among the many targets Trump has zeroed in on recently is former Congresswoman Liz Cheney, who has been critical of Trump. He suggested she face “nine barrels shooting at her,” one of many statements meant to stoke aggression against his perceived adversaries.
Helen Lewis of The Atlantic observed that “journalists are only some of the many ‘enemies from within’ whom Trump has name-checked at his rallies and on his favored social network, Truth Social.” Trump’s list of targets includes other groups and individuals, all of whom he claims represent a threat to his America. According to NPR, Trump has made over 100 threats to prosecute or persecute various opponents. As Lewis noted, these threats align with a broader authoritarian agenda where opposition and dissent are systematically suppressed.
Violent rhetoric against the press in the United States carries dire consequences for the nation’s democracy and public safety. Attacks on the press are historically common in authoritarian regimes that seek to control public opinion and suppress dissenting voices. The United States, however, has long prided itself on a tradition of free press, protected by the First Amendment. Trump’s rhetoric threatens to erode this fundamental democratic safeguard, particularly if it emboldens supporters to act on his suggestions.
Research shows that Trump’s verbal attacks on journalists increase the risk of physical harm for those in the field. Journalists reporting at Trump rallies have faced harassment and threats, creating a hostile environment where the free exchange of information is under constant attack. If left unchecked, such rhetoric could lead to even greater violence against journalists and discourage them from covering Trump critically.
The climate of hostility toward journalists also discourages broader civic engagement. When the press is targeted and freedom of expression is threatened, people are less likely to speak out or challenge authority. This chilling effect is compounded for marginalized communities who, if threatened by Trump’s rhetoric, may fear retaliation for engaging in political discourse.
The anti-media rhetoric extends beyond Trump and his circle to a wide range of right-wing figures who see the press as an enemy to their political agenda. In recent months, the Republican National Committee has intensified its rhetoric, painting the media as an adversary and encouraging supporters to view journalists with suspicion or outright hostility. This dangerous pattern creates a narrative where misinformation is circulated unchallenged, consolidating power for those pushing an authoritarian agenda.
By encouraging distrust of the media, Trump and his allies set the stage for election interference tactics, harassment of poll workers, and further threats against journalists and opposition voices. These tactics are not simply political posturing—they align with documented strategies for undermining democratic norms, as seen in authoritarian regimes around the world.
The escalation of violence toward the press must not be dismissed as campaign bluster or political theater. This rhetoric has real consequences for press freedom, democratic integrity, and public safety. Many human rights and press advocacy organizations have condemned Trump’s recent statements, urging the public and political leaders alike to reject such rhetoric as a fundamental threat to American democracy.
As the nation approaches another contentious election, it is critical to remember that a free press is central to maintaining a functioning democracy. Trump’s attacks on the media are not isolated incidents but part of a sustained assault on the institutions that safeguard democratic discourse and accountability. As Jeff Sharlet aptly remarked, “It’s not a joke. It’s fascism.”
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