Despite Blatant Proof, the Media Presses On With Claims Trump Will Let Iran ‘Bomb’ US Cities

 

The “Let them Bomb LA” fraud continues. In covering the media, I often run into what I can only describe as a Press Paradox. At once, I cannot grasp that they are behaving one way while also shaking my head in complete acceptance that of course they let their bias dominate.

This internal contradiction has reared its ugly head once again this week with the farcical “bomb LA” news cycle. It is clear for many in the news industry; they simply cannot help themselves.

It centers around the speech President Trump gave earlier this week during a rally in Nebraska, when the president said, “And again, remember, with the war, it’s just artificial. It’s a little bit high. It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe. They could take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay, and it’s gonna be over with very soon.”

The media commentary that followed would have you believe that Trump encouraged Iran to bomb LA and San Diego. Just on the surface, this seems like a quote that demands more analysis, as a president saying such a thing is outrageous.

And here is where that paradox comes into play. A journalist should see that clip from the president, pause, and dig in to verify what was said and how it was framed. Instead, we have a clutch of named journos simply running with the bold claim that he said, effectively, “Go bomb LA,” with no professionalism attached.

It is clear that many in the press are not concerned with accuracy, but with pushing this false negative narrative. The researchability of this quote makes this so outlandish. Along with Eugene Robinson, in the above clip, there are numerous examples this week.

At NBC News, Natasha Korecki was still pushing the claim that he said “let them” bomb LA. CBS News followed this same script, suggesting that Trump came out to clarify his words the next day, correcting his “controversial remarks.”

At CNN, Elex Michaelson went down this same path, echoing comments by Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass. Also, Kaitlan Collins was still pumping this narrative, with a clip of a White House scramble, where the president was asked about this quote, once again.

This is where things should become embarrassing, if these righteous journalists were capable of feeling such an emotion — especially Michaelson and Collins — as their own network has already stored this false claim in the warehouse.

CNN’s own fact-check expert, Daniel Dale (who is particularly intent on displaying Trump’s false claims), had already corrected the record and stipulated that Trump was not suggesting he would allow Iran to bomb select cities in this country. He was saying the opposite. (Bold type employed to assist the wayward journalists who have been incapable of gleaning the overall message):

But you want to see trauma, you want to see problems. I said it the other day: let them hit a missile into San Diego or Los Angeles on the way, let them hit you. Want to see a horror show? You want to see problems? Let them hit San Diego. Let them hit Los Angeles, and you want to see some bad things happen. You want to see a country that would be in freefall. We’re not going to let that happen. We protect our cities. We protect our country. We’re not letting that happen.

Kaitlan, when your own Trump-obsessed fact-check guru declares that Trump did not say this, it is time to step back from it. This is not a mystery. It is the “Very fine people” hoax redux. Those full quotes are not difficult for any journalist to unearth.

On that Morning Joe clip, they played the full video of the president delivering that full passage – and then proceeded to completely ignore his meaning. Robinson insists on the cherry-picked words of “let them hit Los Angeles,” before insisting, “that is what he meant to say. It is. It is. Absolutely.”

These are the alleged professionals in the industry, and they are incapable of delivering facts in a straightforward manner. For days, the concept of the president saying he would allow a hostile nation to strike the U.S. has been in the news. It is generated by the same press unwilling to be honest about his actual words.

And this is the same press corps enraged that select outlets have been blocked by the White House. As wrong as that action has been, their outrage about it is undercut when they justify that action being taken. Anyone remaining who insists Trump would allow Iran to bomb LA is leaving a crater where their credibility used to stand.

Watch above via MS NOW.

This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.

The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
The single summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting from both sides of the aisle. Subscribe now!

Tags: