A violent attack on a BBC cameraman at a Donald Trump rally in El Paso has reignited concerns over the president's rhetoric against the media. The assailant, wearing a 'Make America Great Again' hat, jumped onto a press platform and shoved the cameraman as Trump was speaking. The incident occurred shortly after Trump lambasted the media, pointing to journalists and prompting boos from the crowd.
BBC correspondent Gary O'Donoghue, who witnessed the attack, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that hostility towards the press is a 'constant feature' of Trump rallies. He noted that he has been spat at before and that American colleagues face even worse abuse. The attack echoes previous incidents, including a bomb threat against CNN in December after Trump branded the media 'the enemy of the people'.
Former UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein has previously warned that Trump's verbal assaults on the press come dangerously close to incitement of violence. Legal experts argue that while incitement is not protected under the First Amendment, courts are unlikely to rule against Trump. A lawsuit filed by protesters assaulted at a Trump rally, Nwanguma v. Trump, was dismissed.
The attack highlights a growing divide between Trump's base and the media. Many supporters believe the press is biased against the president, refusing to acknowledge economic improvements such as lower unemployment and higher wages. This perception, fueled by Trump's rhetoric, leads some to view attacks on journalists as justified. As the assailant was led away, many in the crowd chanted 'Let him go'.
With legal challenges unlikely to curb Trump's language, the situation appears set to continue. The mere mention of 'the media' now triggers boos and hisses at rallies, indicating a deeply entrenched hostility that may be difficult to reverse.
