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The importance of a free and independent press was a relatively uncontroversial notion before Donald Trump took office, but since the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump has launched relentless attacks against the media.
In Moon Township, Pennsylvania, Donald Trump held another rally for his re-election campaign. During his speech the President glorified a previous assault on a reporter, saying that witnessing the violence was "a beautiful sight."
Watch the video below.
"It's a beautiful sight" -- Trump glorifies violence against reporters pic.twitter.com/UAENo59vrR
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 23, 2020
Trump went into detail describing the assault saying:
"They were grabbing them left and right."
"Sometimes they'd grab — they grabbed one guy, 'I'm a reporter, I'm a reporter.' Get out of here."
"They threw him aside like he was a little bag of popcorn."
Trump continued:
"I mean, honestly, when you watch the crap we've all had to take so long, we you see that it's actually — you don't want to do that — but when it, it's actually a beautiful sight."
And he insisted again about the assault:
"It's a beautiful sight."
While the President smiled over his statement glorifying violence towards the press to his audience of loyal MAGA supporters, others watch with growing concern.
The Twitter community sees a disturbing resemblance to methods historically used by authoritarians.
Sewing distrust in the news and the effectiveness of protests.
That fits the plan, I have to post the playbook:https://t.co/cw87MNRqLH
— Star Lost (@StarLost_1701) September 23, 2020
Good God a president who thinks abuse of power is a beautiful sight. So does Putin. Anyone care for some tea?
— Frank Marin (@FrankRiveraMar1) September 23, 2020
pic.twitter.com/RPiYNu6MlL
— Andrew Hsieh 🇬🇧🇪🇺🇭🇰🟡 (@AndrewOnSeeAIR) September 23, 2020
The new axis living up to its name https://t.co/Ktxe953fPa
— Notorious (@realworldrj) September 23, 2020
Authoritarianism is a beautiful sight to Trump because he is an authoritarian.
— Bipartisanship is Negotiating With Terrorists (@ljmontello) September 23, 2020
https://t.co/rysK0t9eCe
— David (@DavidJJenni) September 23, 2020
I always wonder about the bystanders i see in lynching pictures. I imagine their stomachs must be ill, but then when i see these rallies, I realize how much hate some people have for others. This crowd would definitely stand idly by.
— Oscar Malone (@OscarslawIII) September 23, 2020
pic.twitter.com/pjJBywcBnM
— 𝓙ess🎮🌊🧠🏳️🌈🔬 (@jessssko) September 23, 2020
Some users have not forgotten Trump's interview with veteran CBS correspondent Lesley Stahl when the President was asked why he attacks the press "over and over" even after winning the election.
Trump's response then was as telling as his actions today. He said:
"You know why I do it? I do it to discredit and demean you all so that when you write negative stories about me no one will believe you."
pic.twitter.com/cnvADCtAJN
— Patrick Hample (@Oldyella49) September 23, 2020
Others voiced increasing alarm over first amendment rights and attacks on reporters.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
— Ken Barth (@kenbarth) September 23, 2020
Not just glorifies, but encourages. He should be held accountable the next time a journalist is attacked at one of his hate rallies.
— Just a guy enjoying life (@IntegrityMatt13) September 23, 2020
Terrifying. In the not-too-distant future, there will be an article written that mentions this rally and how Trump called shooting reporters "a beautiful sight, a beautiful sight." The article will be about one of Trump's followers shooting a reporter.
— Hemry, Local Bartender (@BartenderHemry) September 23, 2020
It's disheartening to see a kid at one of his rallies.
Why expose your kid to the kind of vile he spews out?
This is really and truly a battle for the soul of America.
Wow.
— Adele 👑 (@ItsAdele19) September 23, 2020
The press is a protected and vital American institution that is essential to an informed public and our continued democracy. Support free and independent media and journalism whenever you can.