Trump Celebrates Recent Violence Against Journalists, Says It’s ‘Actually A Beautiful Sight’

LOADING ERROR LOADING President Donald Trump celebrated violence against journalists during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Tuesday night, mocking a reporter who was injured covering this summer’s racial injustice demonstrations and calling the act “actually a beautiful sight.” The president’s comments are the latest of many attacks on the free press but an overt endorsement of members of the media coming under attack. During one moment at the rally, Trump recounted racial justice demonstrations in Minneapolis following the police killing of George Floyd, saying the city had been “cured” after National Guard troops were deployed. Honestly, when you watch the crap that we’ve all had to take so long, when you see that — you don’t want to do that — but when you see it, it’s actually a beautiful sight.” “It’s a beautiful sight,” he repeated. "It's a beautiful sight" -- Trump glorifies violence against reporters pic.twitter.com/UAENo59vrR — Aaron Rupar September 23, 2020 When Trump was describing another incident, in which MSNBC anchor Ali Velshi was struck in the knee with a rubber bullet, the president mockingly said the journalist was an “idiot reporter” who yelled, “I’ve been hit.” "We want to go in, and we want to take over Portland" -- Trump recounts a conversation he had with the governor of Oregon He then mocks @AliVelshi for getting shot with a rubber bullet in Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/OSqDJ3XYLa — Aaron Rupar September 23, 2020 Velshi responded to the comments later Tuesday, wondering on Twitter why a journalist getting shot on the job was a “beautiful thing to Trump?” The president made a similar remark about Velshi’s injury at another rally this weekend.