Media Get Worked Up Over Trump Assassination Joke

LANCASTER, Penn.— Former President Donald Trump made a joke about reporters and the attempts on his life as he commented on the level of security at his Lancaster, Pennsylvania, rally on Sunday, and in response media outlets worked themselves into hysterics, claiming he wished violence on the press.

Roughly 3,000 people woke before dawn, braved chilly November temperatures, and stood in line for hours to attend the 10 a.m. Trump visit at the Lancaster County Airport; the first of three campaign stops on his Sunday calendar.

Trump’s podium was strangely protected on just three of four sides with thick, bulletproof glass and large gaps between the glass. One side left him totally unprotected.

“I’m just looking here, and I’m watching, and, this has nothing to do with corruption, but has to do with a little bit with intelligence. 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 [In front of his face at the front of the podium] but all we have over here is the fake news. And to get me, somebody would have to shoot through the fake news,” he shrugged, “and I don’t mind that so much.”

It got a laugh from the crowd, who clearly got the edgy joke about the same press that has compared him to Hitler and often mischaracterized his words.

His point was that a shooter would have to aim through the risers where media stands since there was not a clear line of vision to him, but his exposed side was to the open airport field, where there was a clear line of vision and no glass protection at all.

He went on about the glass a bit longer, mentioning it would be good to have glass on the exposed side. There are farmhouses in the distance, he said. “See the guy up in the window back there? Has anybody inspected that? It’s okay. It’s okay. But it would be nice to have [glass].”

The press was already typing. Finally, something worth reporting.

“Breaking: Trump Says He Wouldn’t Mind Someone Shooting Through ‘Fake News’ At Rally,” a Forbes headline reads.

“Trump talks shooting at press, ramps up election fraud claims at Pa. rally,” NBC reported.

“Trump misleads about voter fraud, jokes about press being shot at Lancaster Airport rally,” reported LNP, the left leaning local Lancaster newspaper that fired numerous reporters last month.

The Atlantic gave readers, “Donald Trump’s Latest Violent Fantasy: The former president muses about reporters getting shot.”

Instead of playing the victim, the media should be asking why the Secret Service, which has already dropped the ball twice, would leave Trump exposed.

Steven Cheung, Trump’s campaign communications director, posted a statement about addressing Trump’s comments.

“President Trump was brilliantly talking about the two assassination attempts on his own life, including one that came within 1/4 of an inch from killing him, something that the media constantly talks and jokes about,” Cheung said. “The President’s statement about protective glass placement has nothing to do with the Media being harmed, or anything else. 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, also. There can be no other interpretation of what was said. He was actually looking out for their welfare, far more than his own!”

Rep. Scott Perry, a Pennsylvania Republican seeking reelection, took a shot at the propaganda press too.

“The Constitution is clear that the people that lead this country must have the consent of the governed. Do they have your consent?” Perry asked.

The Biden-Harris administration has allowed millions of people to pour into the country and increased the cost of living, he said. “Did you ask them to surrender in Afghanistan?” he asked.

He pointed to the platform of reporters and television cameras.

“We don’t live in North Korea. We don’t live in Russia or Cuba or communist China. We don’t need their propaganda. We know what’s going on in this country. We have had enough of the disrespect. This is our country. We don’t just live here and they tell us what to do,” Perry said. “There’s been one guy, that’s been willing to stand up to them, and all the people disrespecting you and our country. One guy. And for his willingness to stand up, they tried to bankrupt him. They have tried to throw him in jail. And they have tried to kill him.”

“On Tuesday night. I want you watching MSNBC. I want you watching these people back here,” Perry indicated to the press again. “You are going to be invigorated. You are going to be inspired by what you see. Because they are going to be devastated.”

The crowd cheered at the thought.

Harris has a star-studded Monday night rally planned in Philadelphia, including Lady Gaga, Oprah Winfrey, Ricky Martin, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Adam Blackstone, singer Jazmine Sullivan, hip hop band the Roots, DJ Cassidy, and rapper Fat Joe.

Trump will hold his final rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan Monday night at Van Andel Arena.

For more election news and updates, visit electionbriefing.com.

Beth Brelje is an elections correspondent for The Federalist. She is an award-winning investigative journalist with decades of media experience.