Reporters and Democrats have begun to blame President Trump for the apparent murder of a Saudi journalist who wrote for the Washington Post, suggesting that Trump’s anti-media rhetoric was essentially a ‘thumbs up’.
Appearing on The Late Show Thursday, MSNBC hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough hammered Trump over the Saudi incident.
“Every time he opens his mouth, we go down a peg internationally,” Brzezinski said.
“We’re gonna pay for that for years to come,” she added, saying that Trump is making the US “look like a joke around the world.”
Brzezinski then argued that the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was in some way advocated by Trump.
“Because this president has been calling the press the ‘enemy of the people’ and I can tell you we’re not going to let this go,” Brzezinski fumed.
“We’re not going to let this go, The Washington Post is not going to let this go. The New York Times is not going to let this go. And also, in terms of how we conduct our foreign policy, we can’t be a joke.” she continued.
“We can’t be siding with the Saudis when they murder a Washington Post columnist. That can’t be our reality and at some point, this has to end in one way or another.” Brzezinski exclaimed.
Meanwhile, others pointed to Trump’s comments during his Thursday night rally speech in Missoula, where he cited Rep. Greg Gianforte‘s past physical spat with a Guardian journalist.
Trump said, “Any guy that can do a body slam…he’s my guy,” suggesting that the incident, which occurred in 2017, helped Gianforte win his congressional seat.
“We endorsed Greg very early but I had heard that he body slammed a reporter,” Trump said, adding “I said, ‘Oh, this is terrible he’s going to lose the election,’ then I said, ‘Wait a minute, I know Montana pretty well, I think it might help him,’ and it did.”
Taking to Twitter, Democrat campaigner Scott Dworkin wrote that “Trump just hit a new low,” suggesting “He’s applauding the assault of a journalist. WaPo journalist Jamal Khashoggi was just assassinated. He’s giving a thumbs up to Saudi Arabia.”
Ready for this? Trump just hit a new low. While at his #MAGAmob rally tonight he praised GOP Rep Gianforte’s body slam of a journalist. He’s applauding the assault of a journalist. WaPo journalist Jamal Khashoggi was just assassinated. He’s giving a thumbs up to Saudi Arabia.
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) October 19, 2018
The unhinged masses piled on:
WaPo reporter murdered. Trump responds with a mass celebration of the beating of another reporter.
— Dr. Robert Fortuna (@psychdr100) October 19, 2018
Let's get something out in the open. If Trump thought for one second he could get away with incarcerating, torturing and doing away with journalists he would. The only survivors of his purge would be those that pander to him shamelessly daily. That's my opinion, sticking to it.
— marcia ramirez (@Ebinsmile) October 19, 2018
Exactly, no kidding. Can we please get over being shocked that we have an anti democracy fascist for POTUS?
I’m certainly not shocked & I won’t be shocked the day he calls out a US journalist by name and they get shot by a MAGA nut the same day. He’ll prob pay their legal fees.
— Phantom Angel (@LostDusty) October 19, 2018
Two weeks ago we learned that sexual abuse does not matter. This week we learn that murder does not matter.
— Encinitas99 Ⓥ (@99encinitas) October 19, 2018
Trump is going to get EVERYTHING he has coming to him, and I'm going to have a ticket in the first row of the execution.
— 2 Balls And A Strike (@FakeArtCritic) October 19, 2018
Is anybody sure Trump didn't order Khashoggi's murder?
— BMLewis (@BMLewis2) October 19, 2018
I knew it. He wanted JK to be murdered. He's trying to scare us and rally his base toward violence.
— Flo. Kiss my grits. (@VeraGorman) October 19, 2018
45 is letting folks know that he supports The Saudis. He probably knew it was going to happen.
— Miss Irma Brown (@MissIrmaBrown01) October 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/89wunderlust/status/1053103131750551552
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