Study: 95% of Major Network Coverage of Trump Was Adverse Following Second Assassination Attempt

An analysis conducted by the Media Research Center (MRC) has revealed that the media coverage of former President Donald Trump following a second assassination attempt was overwhelmingly negative. The findings, discussed in a recent Breitbart article, indicate that 95% of the coverage from major television networks—ABC, CBS, and NBC—was adverse in the 72 hours post-incident.

Media Coverage Analysis

The report highlights that Trump’s attempted assassination, which occurred at the Trump International Golf Course in Florida, dominated campaign news airtime, accounting for a staggering 70% of the networks’ coverage during this period. The analysis pointed out that out of 21 evaluative comments made by the networks, 20 were critical of Trump, further solidifying the study’s assertion of a negative bias.

Content of Coverage

Notably, commentary from NBC’s Lester Holt linked the attack to Trump’s campaign rhetoric, alleging a connection to his prior inflammatory claims regarding Haitian immigrants in Ohio. CBS’s Norah O’Donnell also featured prominently in the discussions, rebutting Trump’s assertion that leftist rhetoric had incited violence, and instead placing responsibility on Trump’s own remarks for escalating political tensions.

Allocation of Blame

In stark contrast to the extensive negative commentary directed at Trump, the networks allocated scant time—just 1 minute and 53 seconds out of a total of 48 minutes of coverage—to explore whether Democratic rhetoric played a role in inciting the violence. This disparity has drawn criticism from the MRC, which asserts that such an oversight reflects the networks’ biased approach to reporting on political violence.

Context of the Attempt

The individual behind the second assassination attempt was identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, who had previously raised suspicions among Customs and Border Patrol officials upon his return from Ukraine. Despite being known to authorities, Routh’s case did not warrant further investigation from the Department of Homeland Security, according to reports.

Previous Incident

This incident marks the second assassination attempt against Trump in recent months. The article references a prior incident involving Thomas Matthew Crooks, who allegedly shot and killed one person and wounded two others during a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Criticism of Media Bias

The MRC has been vocal in its criticism of the mainstream media, asserting that the predominately negative coverage of Trump following these assassination attempts is indicative of a deeper, systemic bias. They argue that the networks have not only failed to address the potential influence of Democratic rhetoric on the actions of individuals like Routh, but they have also perpetuated a narrative that positions Trump as the primary instigator of political violence.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, this analysis raises critical questions about the influence of media coverage on public perception and the responsibility of networks to provide balanced reporting on issues of political violence.