Media

Media Disparages Trump Over Antifa Warnings, Despite Antifa’s Violent Actions

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Mike Brest Reporter
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The media attacked President Trump for saying Antifa would become violent should the GOP lose the midterm elections while speaking to evangelical leaders Tuesday evening, despite Antifa members having a history of being violent or trying to incite violence while protesting.

“The level of hatred — the level of anger —  is unbelievable,” the president said, according to the New York Times. “Part of it is because of some of the things I’ve done for you and for me and for my family, but I’ve done them … This November 6 election is very much a referendum on not only me — it’s a referendum on your religion. It’s a referendum on free speech and the First Amendment.”

The media proceeded to attack the president for those comments.

“He’s trafficking in [Trump’s base] conspiracy theories,” MSNBC’s Chuck Todd said Tuesday evening. “Antifa: an issue in Portland, Oregon. OK, I’ll grant you that. But this is not a giant issue. I think he just wants to rationalize violence.”

CNN’s Don Lemon also questioned the president’s statement on Tuesday night, saying, “No organization is perfect. There was some violence. No one condones the violence. But there were different reasons for Antifa and for these Neo-Nazis to be there. One, racist fascists, the other group fighting racist fascists. There’s a distinction there.” (RELATED: CNN’s Don Lemon Explains Antifa: ‘No Organization Is Perfect’)

In addition to those, CNN’s John Avlon called it a “dangerous new low” for the president on Wednesday morning.

While some media members did acknowledge Antifa’s violent actions or their threats of violence, that did not stop them from criticizing the president’s comments.

Earlier this month, at an Antifa rally outside the White House, many protesters threatened the president. Protesters looked into the camera and threatened to physically harm Trump. One even said he’d “murder the president.” (RELATED: Secret Service ‘Aware’ Of Antifa Threats To Murder Trump)

Further, an Antifa member compiled a list of ICE employees’ names and addresses and shared it on Twitter, although there were no clear instructions as what people should do with that information. (RELATED: Antifa Spreads List Of ICE Agents Compiled Using LinkedIn And Blasts It Over Twitter)

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