Media Malfeasance

The leftist media, which is constantly lecturing the country about “disinformation,” engaged in an orgy of disinformation this weekend. They took a statement Donald Trump made about the dangers the American auto industry faces from communist China, and attempted to turn it into a threat of widespread violence.

Here’s the exact quote that Trump said:

“If you’re listening, President Xi, . . . -- he understands the way I deal -- those big monster car manufacturing plants that you’re building in Mexico right now . . . you’re going to not hire Americans and you’re going to sell the cars to us, no.

“We’re going to put a 100 percent tariff on every single car that comes across the line, and you’re not going to be able to sell those cars if I get elected.

“Now if I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath for the whole -- that’s gonna be the least of it. . . It’s going to be a bloodbath for the country. That will be the least of it. But they’re not going to sell those cars. They’re building massive factories.”

The context is obvious. Trump was speaking specifically about the auto industry during a rally in Ohio, one of the top three states when it comes to auto manufacturing jobs. He was warning that unless he is elected and there are serious policy changes, there will be a “bloodbath” in the car industry and many lost American jobs.

CNN, MSNBC, and other media outlets ran wild headlines like this: “Trump Suggests ‘It’s Going To Be A Bloodbath’ If He Loses The Election,” promoting the hoax that Trump was “threatening political violence.”

Here’s a montage of progressive leaders, consultants, and pundits literally using the same word over and over. But it’s okay when they do it. This is not just bad journalism. It is dangerous.

Moreover, there has been a plethora of violent rhetoric from the left against Trump and saying things that are intended to result in violence against him and his supporters. (Here and here.)

By the way, the dishonest people twisting Trump’s words are the danger to America, and they are also cowards. MSNBC morning host Joe Scarborough was among the many leftists who falsely claimed that Trump was threatening violence.  But Scarborough quickly retreated and deleted his post after Elon Musk called him out for being “extremely misleading.”