Trump addresses violence in America with presidential 'I know you are but what am I' doctrine
When it comes to answering the question of who is to blame for politically motivated violence in the United States, President Trump is adhering to an age-old proverb: "I know you are, but what am I?"
On Friday, an ABC reporter asked Trump about a new poll that reveals about half of Americans believe he is encouraging violence with his rhetoric. "You know what? You're creating violence by your question," Trump shot back. He repeatedly pointed to reporter Karen Travers to make clear that he was calling her out specifically.
Trump said that in general, a lot of reporters are "creating violence by not writing the truth," repeating an assertion he has been making in the days since a Trump supporter mailed a pipe bomb to CNN's New York offices. To be fair, that ABC poll also shows that 47 percent of Americans agree with him and think the media encourages violence.
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The president added Friday that those who support him, which he says includes "most people," understand when a story is false, concluding by suggesting that there would be less violence in the country if the media reported stories "fairly." Watch the exchange below. Brendan Morrow
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Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
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