The View Slams Trump For Praising GOP Rep Who Assaulted Reporter: ‘Condoning Violence Against the Media’
The View had a lot to say on Friday about President Donald Trump‘s praise of Congressman Greg Gianforte (R-MT) for his attack on a reporter.
Joy Behar started off by joking about “telling Melania” (a reference to the First Lady’s campaign against bullying) before outright condemning the president for “straight-up condoning violence against the media.” This quickly segued into a conversation among the panel about Trump’s “tone-deaf” reaction to Saudi Arabia’s attempts to explain Jamal Khashoggi‘s disappearance.
Meghan McCain noted the poor timing of encouraging violence against the press, and then pivoted the conversation to the profane message CNN’s Jim Acosta sent to a former aide of the First Lady. McCain argued that the media and Trump are both responsible for raising the country to a more respectful standard.
Behar took umbrage with this argument — asking McCain if she was trying to equate Trump and the media on this issue. McCain responded by citing conservative anger towards the press. Sunny Hostin sided with Behar, saying, “the tone comes from the top” — especially since Acosta and other CNNers receive regular death threats for their critical coverage of Trump.
McCain eventually said that she wished Trump held back for a bit before attacking the media amidst the Khashoggi outrage. But Behar countered:
“They can’t because it works for their base…He keeps saying that the press is lying, that the press is the enemy of the people.”
McCain concluded by saying that if Trump can’t be an example of leadership, then it’s up to others to hold themselves accountable where he cannot.
Watch above, via ABC.
[Image via screengrab]
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