The backlash against major media outlets over their coverage of former President Trump’s recent comments about former Representative Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., is coming from both his supporters and critics.
At an event in Glendale, Arizona, Trump criticized Cheney, a frequent Trump opponent and supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her a "radical war hawk." He also mocked her stance by suggesting she be put with a rifle in a war-like scenario, saying, "Let's put her with a rifle standing there with nine barrels shooting at her, OK? Let's see how she feels about it. You know, when the guns are trained on her face," Trump said, mocking the aggressive stance of policymakers like Cheney on military involvement.
Despite the context, several media outlets portrayed Trump’s remarks as calls for Cheney’s execution. The New York Times ran the headline, “Trump attacks Liz Cheney using violent war imagery.” The Washington Post’s headline suggested, “Trump suggests ‘war hawk’ Liz Cheney should have guns ‘trained to her face.’” CNN took it even further, claiming “Trump says ‘war hawk’ Liz Cheney should be fired upon in escalation of violent rhetoric against his opponents.” The Drudge Report went viral with a bold red headline stating, “TRUMP CALLS FOR CHENEY’S EXECUTION.”
The sensational coverage also extended to broadcasts. CNN anchor Kasie Hunt reported, “Former President Donald Trump is escalating his violent rhetoric, suggesting one of his most prominent critics, former Congresswoman Liz Cheney, should be fired upon.” Other media personalities echoed similar interpretations, with MSNBC’s Jonathan Lemire describing it as “the latest escalation of really dangerous, violent rhetoric.”
Not all critics bought into this narrative. Joe Walsh, a former GOP congressman and Trump critic, stated on X, “Trump did NOT call for Liz Cheney to be executed…Trump is NOT calling for Liz Cheney to be executed in front of a firing line. He’s not. Listen to the entirety of what he said.” Walsh added, “He’s an utterly horrible human being who’s utterly unfit for office, but the truth should always matter.”
Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks agreed, tweeting, “Donald Trump did not call for the execution of Liz Cheney. That is a bald-faced lie.” While Uygur also expressed discomfort over Trump’s rhetoric, he criticized the media’s distortion of the comment as harmful to their credibility.
Political scientist Ian Bremmer criticized the Drudge Report’s exaggerated headline as “extraordinary irresponsibility” in an era of declining media trust. Conservative radio host Erick Erickson noted the public’s dwindling faith in the press, saying, “The Trump ‘bloodbath’ comment and his latest on Liz Cheney have both been exaggerated and taken out of context.”
This instance is a reminder of how sensational media coverage can further erode public trust. As Glenn Greenwald observed, the portrayal of Trump’s comments in this case underscores why Americans increasingly view media with skepticism.