On Monday, the far-left news outlet Axios displayed its typical perversity by suggesting that following a gunshot wound to the face, President Trump ought to publicly apologize for getting shot. The publication even went so far as to argue that such an act would be capable of unifying America. It proposed that if he were to deliver a speech that showcased a rare quality in him – humility – and told the nation that he had been too harsh, combative, and loose with his language, it could potentially have a positive impact on the country.
The Axios article suggested that Trump should acknowledge that words can have consequences and pledge to tone down his rhetoric if he wins in the future. It further proposed that he bring new voices into the White House as part of this change. However, this line of thought could be summarized more succinctly: “He had it coming.
The same sentiment was expressed by those who blamed a rape victim for provoking her attacker by wearing a short skirt. Just as with the victims in that scenario, the onus is placed solely on Trump for provoking his own assassination attempt. The media, including Axios, has consistently targeted Trump and other Republicans with hate campaigns that have led to assassination attempts on prominent figures such as Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), Associate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and now Donald Trump.
In the case of Rep. Scalise, a left-wing extremist attempted to kill every Republican lawmaker at a ballfield while shouting, “This is for health care!” The media’s role in inciting violence against Republicans cannot be understated. For nearly ten years, these outlets have propagated lie after lie about Trump and other Republicans, accusing them of colluding with Russia to steal the election, being threats to democracy, being racists, being Nazis, and even attempting to launch an insurrection.
Axios, in particular, has been quick to praise Joe Biden’s calls for toning down rhetoric without addressing the fact that he himself has used assassination-encouraging language in his speeches. In June, Biden declared Trump and his supporters a threat to “the very foundations of our republic” and said they represented “a threat to this country.” He also stated that Trump “could really become the dictator that he promised to be on day one,” just days before the assassination attempt.
It is clear that the media, including Axios, are fine with Democrats and their allies encouraging violence against Republicans and even wishing for their death. They have no desire to see change in themselves or in the Democratic party, which is why they focus all their criticism on Trump and other Republicans. The media, including Axios, should be held accountable for their role in inciting violence and assassination attempts against public figures.