'After second assassination attempt, 95% of Trump coverage negative'

Despite a shocking assassination attempt against Donald Trump, mainstream TV networks continued to focus their coverage on negative aspects of the Republican candidate ’s campaign. In the 72 hours following the incident, analysis of ABC, CBS, and NBC evening newscasts reveals that 95% of the coverage remained negative, with just 5% casting Trump in a positive light.

The report was compiled by Media Research Centre , a conservative content analysis and media watchdog .

1. Overwhelming Focus on Negativity
Out of the 69 minutes of campaign-related news between September 15 and 17, nearly 48 minutes (70%) were dedicated to the assassination attempt. Yet, in spite of the gravity of the event, news anchors and reporters still emphasised their criticisms of Trump’s rhetoric and policies.

2. Anti-Trump Spin Prevails
Over the course of the three days, MRC analysts recorded 21 evaluative comments about Trump, with 20 being negative. Even in the immediate aftermath of the assassination attempt, reporters continued to criticise his campaign and behaviour rather than offering neutral or sympathetic coverage.

3. Linking Trump to Immigration Controversy
Trump’s past comments about immigrants were repeatedly referenced, with networks such as NBC and CBS airing critical pieces about Trump’s “baseless” claims regarding Haitian immigrants in Ohio. Reporters tied these remarks to Trump’s supposed role in inflaming political rhetoric , adding to the negative tone.

4. Media’s Dismissal of Blame on Democrats
Though Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, pointed to Democratic rhetoric as a contributing factor to the attempted shooting, networks gave minimal attention to these claims. In total, only 1 minute and 53 seconds of the 48 minutes of coverage addressed the possibility of Democrats sharing any blame.

5. Continuous Criticism of Trump ’s Rhetoric
Despite the seriousness of the assassination attempt, networks used their coverage to emphasise Trump’s alleged role in inciting political violence. CBS and ABC, in particular, focused on Trump’s past inflammatory remarks, arguing that his words heightened tensions across the political spectrum.

6. Focus on Trump’s Comments Over Facts
Instead of examining the potential motives behind the assassination attempt, media outlets focused on Trump’s statements and behaviour. NBC, for instance, highlighted Trump’s supposed “baseless” claims about mail-in ballots and other conspiracy theories, even within hours of the security scare.

7. Accusations of False Claims
Several segments of the coverage focused on Trump’s alleged spread of false information. For example, ABC’s World News Tonight and CBS Evening News repeatedly accused him of promoting conspiracy theories and inciting fear, with little time spent on the assassination attempt itself.

8. Dismissal of Trump’s Defence
When Trump and his supporters responded to criticism of his rhetoric, news outlets treated these defences as mere deflections. Reporters dismissed Trump’s blame on Democratic rhetoric, with NBC and CBS airing segments that countered his arguments by pointing out his record of aggressive political language.

9. Limited Exploration of Shooter’s Motive
Across all three networks, there was very little exploration of the potential motives behind the assassination attempt. Reporters largely avoided speculating on why Trump was targeted, instead focusing on how his rhetoric and campaign conduct could be seen as contributing to political tensions.

10. Media Reluctance to Ease Negative Coverage
Despite the dramatic nature of the event, the networks appeared reluctant to shift away from their negative narrative against Trump. Even during coverage of a life-threatening incident, anchors and reporters largely maintained a critical stance towards his campaign, indicating the broader media’s persistent negative framing of Trump throughout the 2024 campaign.

In summary, despite the severity of an assassination attempt against a former president and current candidate, the media’s coverage showed no substantial shift in tone. Critical remarks about Trump’s rhetoric and actions continued to dominate the airwaves, even in the immediate aftermath of such a dangerous situation.