A CNN correspondent criticized former President Trump for yelling at his supporters to “fight!” in the aftermath of Saturday’s shocking assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.
Shortly after a gunman opened fire at the rally on Saturday evening, Trump was rushed off the stage with blood coming from his ears. After the gunman died and Secret Service agents removed Trump, he pumped his fist and yelled “Fight!” repeatedly, drawing cheers from his supporters.
CNN special correspondent Jamie Gangel suggested the Republican front-runner was sending the wrong message.
“When I watched the video, one thing that struck me as odd because of the strong language was that after he was punched, former President Trump stood up and said, ‘Fight, fight, fight,'” Gangel said.
Republican candidate Donald Trump is photographed being escorted off stage surrounded by Secret Service agents, his face bleeding, during a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images (Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images)
“I think what we’re hearing from people is that that’s not the message we want to get across right now. We want to tone it down,” she said.
Shooting at Trump rally investigated as possible assassination attempt
Gangel’s comments drew criticism from some conservatives, many of whom had cheered Trump’s defiance. The gunman reportedly killed at least one attendee and seriously injured two others.
CBS host Margaret Brennan on Saturday similarly criticized Trump for not calling on his supporters to ease political “tensions” in a social media statement in which he offered condolences to the other victims and thanked police for their swift response.
Trump was released from a Pittsburgh-area hospital late Saturday and is currently safe.
President Biden spoke to Trump by phone after addressing the nation and condemning the “horrible” attack. Other former presidents and other bipartisan figures also condemned the shooting and wished Trump a speedy recovery.
Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump is escorted off stage during a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
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Fox News’ Charles Kreitz and Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
