A Media Research Center (MRC) study has revealed that the major networks—ABC, CBS, and NBC—dedicated overwhelmingly negative coverage to former President Donald Trump following the second assassination attempt against him. From September 15 to 17, a staggering 95% of evaluative comments on these networks were critical of the GOP frontrunner, with 20 out of 21 statements deemed negative. This continued the pattern of negative media portrayals Trump has faced throughout his political career.
The attempted assassination took place at Trump’s Florida golf course, where a gunman was thwarted before reaching the former president. Despite the gravity of the incident, the media’s focus quickly shifted to attacking Trump’s rhetoric, particularly on immigration and the claims he made about the Democrats inciting violence.
Trump Media , DJT Media is almost to the point of what it's actually worth… pic.twitter.com/AMgswU6qH2
— the NUTT (@fotonutt) September 20, 2024
NBC anchor Lester Holt and CBS’s Norah O'Donnell both drew a direct connection between Trump's political statements and the increase in threats against him. Holt remarked that Trump’s "baseless claims" about Haitian immigrants had escalated tensions in Ohio, where the shooting attempt occurred.
The legacy media's apparent reluctance to cover the assassination attempt with more objectivity is reflective of its broader anti-Trump bias. Some have pointed out that instead of portraying Trump as a victim of political violence, these outlets have instead painted him as partially responsible for the rise in political threats, reinforcing the adversarial tone these networks have taken towards the former president.
BREAKING REPORT: Trump song reaches # 1 on the charts..
MEDIA WOULD HATE IF YOU SHARED THIS.. pic.twitter.com/BFto2eV6vo
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) September 20, 2024
The MRC has been tracking media bias for years, consistently showing that mainstream outlets heavily favor Democratic candidates while portraying Trump negatively. This latest study follows a long-established trend. A previous MRC study showed that during the 2020 election cycle, 89% of Trump’s coverage on these same networks was also negative.
Despite two attempts on his life, the media has failed to shift its coverage towards the gravity of these attacks, maintaining its focus on criticism of Trump’s rhetoric. According to media analysts, this lack of impartiality could be seen as fueling further polarization in an already divided political climate. Some conservative commentators argue that by minimizing the significance of such violent attempts, the press may inadvertently be encouraging more extremist behavior from the far-left.
Critics of the mainstream media suggest that this negative focus is not coincidental but a concerted effort to derail Trump's campaign ahead of the 2024 election. They argue that the liberal media’s narrative serves to embolden his political opponents while stoking fears among the American public. Following the assassination attempt, there were immediate claims from liberal outlets that Trump himself, rather than the assailant, was responsible for the violence. This narrative has been a common theme in the media's treatment of Trump throughout his political career.
While negative press coverage is nothing new for Trump, this most recent analysis raises questions about the role of the media in shaping political narratives, especially in such a high-stakes election year. With Trump remaining the Republican frontrunner, it is likely that this media bias will continue as Election Day approaches. Meanwhile, the public will have to navigate this overwhelming negativity to discern the facts on the ground.
