ormer President Donald Trump ignited controversy Sunday during a key swing state campaign rally when he suggested he “wouldn’t mind” if someone had to “shoot through the fake news” to reach him – a statement that drew immediate condemnation on social media.
Speaking to supporters at Lancaster Airport in Lititz, Pennsylvania, Trump made the inflammatory remarks while discussing media coverage.
“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,” Trump declared while pointing toward the press area.
Trump campaign Communications Director Steven Cheung defended the former president’s comments in an email to Newsweek. “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,” Cheung wrote.
“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.”
Cheung insisted Trump was expressing concern for press safety. “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!”
The comments were particularly alarming given two recent assassination attempts on the former president’s life. In July, an incident at a Butler, Pennsylvania rally ended in tragedy when Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire, killing attendee Corey Comperatore before Secret Service agents fatally shot Crooks.
Just two months later in September, authorities apprehended Ryan Wesley Routh at Trump International Golf Club while he was allegedly planning to attack the former president.
Trump’s remarks drew swift rebuke on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. MSNBC host Katie Phang wrote: “Just Trump casually approving the violent deaths of members of the media…while his supporters laugh.”
Decision Desk HQ contributor Nick Field responded: “I would simply vote for the candidate who doesn’t incite violence. That seems pretty ‘small c’ conservative to me.”
Journalist Ryan Satin added: “So in the last days before the election, Trump has now suggested violence towards a politician AND the media. This isn’t fascism? Forcible suppression of opposition is a key component in fascism.”
Trump’s hostility toward media outlets has escalated throughout his campaign. In 2023, he demanded that NBC News be investigated for treason over its coverage of his criminal charges. Following his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump lashed out at ABC over the moderators’ fact-checking efforts.
In October 2024, Trump escalated his criticism of CBS, filing a lawsuit against the network’s coverage of both the vice presidential debate and Harris’ appearances on “60 Minutes” and “Face the Nation.”
Prior to the lawsuit, the former president’s attorneys wrote letters to CBS News requesting that the network release the full interview transcript. CBS News’ declined to do so, citing the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
A network spokesperson previously told Newsweek via email, “Former President Trump’s repeated claims against 60 Minutes are false.”
Meanwhile, the vice president focused her final campaign push in Michigan, attending a Black church service for the fourth consecutive Sunday.
Her schedule included visits to Black-owned businesses in Detroit’s Livernois district and a barbershop in Pontiac, followed by an evening rally at Michigan State University in East Lansing.
