ABC News veteran anchor George Stephanopoulos made a nonsensical claim that Former President Donald Trump contributed to the “violent rhetoric” that led to an assassination attempt against him.
Yes, really.
Stephanopoulos’s disgusting claims came just 24 hours after the near-fatal incident.
The discussion began with anchor Martha Raddatz addressing claims suggesting President Joe Biden‘s involvement in the attack.
Watch
The anchor also cited a social media post from Trump’s new VP, J.D. Vance, which blamed Biden’s rhetoric for the incident.
Vance said the “central premise of the Biden campaign” is that Trump is “an authoritarian fascist” that “must be stopped at all costs.”
“That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination,” Vance asserted.
Today is not just some isolated incident.
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) July 14, 2024
The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs.
That rhetoric led directly to President Trump's attempted assassination.
At this point, Stephanopoulos interjected, stating, “Of course, President Trump and his supporters have contributed to this violent rhetoric, as well.”
Raddatz agreed and cited examples of Trump’s past statements.
She referred to Trump’s March 2023 warning of “potential death and destruction” if charged by a Manhattan district attorney and his comments about “bedlam in the country” if criminal charges against him succeed.
Raddatz then went on to reference a statement by Trump where he predicted a “bloodbath for the country” if not re-elected.
Stephanopoulos later received a swift backlash, with many viewers taking to social media to slam the anchor.
Marc Cox described the comments as “disgusting.”
It took @ABC news and George Stephanopoulos exactly 12 hours to blame Trump for “violent language.” Disgusting. @971FMTalk @StOnge_Kim pic.twitter.com/2nG54lmWXP
— Marc Cox (@MarcCox971) July 14, 2024
David Asman labeled them a “new low, even for a former Clinton operative.”
George Stephanopoulos, while interviewing Senate candidate David McCormick, shifts blame to Republicans for blaming Democrats’ violent rhetoric for leading to the assassination attempt. Even for a former Clinton operative, this is a new low. pic.twitter.com/4uvCZ7qBvc
— David Asman (@DavidAsmanfox) July 14, 2024
This is the second time Stephanopoulos has been in trouble with ABC News after making comments about Biden’s inability to serve another term.
After being pummeled by Biden supporters, Stephanopoulos issued a public statement of regret and another statement from ABC News that his views did not reflect the network’s position.
According to an ABC insider, the network entered “a fully-fledged crisis” with “far-reaching reverberations,” as news division president Debra O’Connell convened a crisis meeting with media advisers, executives and public relations consultants.
“[O’Connell told him] in no uncertain terms that he is a newsman who is expected to be objective,” the insider said.
“She was furious that someone of George’s experience and status would compromise the news division’s impartiality and subject it to unnecessary and embarrassing headlines.”
READ: ABC Hosts React in Horror to Biden’s Car Crash Interview – WATCH
