Politics

White House Condemns Attacks On Press At Trump Rally

REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

Saagar Enjeti White House Correspondent
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White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders condemned the actions of a Trump rallygoer Monday evening who attacked a cameraman for BBC News, in a Tuesday afternoon statement.

“President Trump condemns all acts of violence against any individual or group of people – including members of the press. We ask that anyone attending an event do so in a peaceful and respectful manner,” Sanders said.

The attack on the press was captured by others in the press section at a Monday evening rally with President Donald Trump in El Paso, Texas. The attacker was shown wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat and briefly shoved BBC cameraman Ron Skeans. (RELATED: ‘Go Back Home To Mommy’ — Crowd Chants USA! USA! As Trump Sends Protesters Packing)

The attacker is shown screaming “f**k the media” before he was ushered away by security personnel. A campaign worker suggested to BBC News after the incident that the attacker was intoxicated. Trump noticed the commotion during his rally and briefly paused to ensure “everything [was] ok” before continuing.

Sanders was encouraged to issue a statement by White House Correspondents Association President Olivier Knox, who said Tuesday that “The White House Correspondents’ Association condemns the physical attack on our colleague at the president’s rally in El Paso, Texas.”

“We are relieved that, this time, no one was seriously hurt,” he continued. “The president of the United States should make absolutely clear to his supporters that violence against reporters is unacceptable.”