Donald Trump Jr. fiercely criticised CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, accusing the media of fostering an environment that has radicalised individuals who have attempted to kill his father, former President Donald Trump.
The heated exchange occurred following the recent vice-presidential debate, where Trump Jr. expressed his frustration with how the media portrayed his father.
Trump Jr., 46, argued that the divisive atmosphere leading up to the November election was primarily fueled by the media, which he accused of being responsible for two assassination attempts targeting his father in recent months.
“The media has radicalised the people that are trying to kill my father,” Trump Jr. said. He emotionally revealed that he had to explain the situation to his five young children twice after incidents where his father narrowly avoided being shot.
One of these incidents occurred at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, where a gunman opened fire, nearly hitting Donald Trump in the head.
Another attempt followed last month at Trump’s Palm Beach golf course. Trump Jr. insisted that these events were part of a media-created narrative, referencing the false Russia investigation that dominated headlines during Trump’s presidency. He claimed, “Donald Trump didn’t just create that environment.”
However, Collins defended the media, interjecting that no one in the press wished harm to the former president.
“Everyone wants your dad to be safe,” she insisted, adding, “But you can’t blame the media for those threats. There’s been no evidence.”
Trump Jr. responded by criticising the media’s portrayal of his father, accusing outlets of allowing people to call Trump “literally Hitler” for years, which he believes contributed to the threats.
The exchange came after Collins praised the vice-presidential debate between Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) and Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as “very civil.”
She highlighted moments of agreement between the candidates, noting they “gave each other the benefit of the doubt.” Trump Jr. wanted more respectful debates, saying he would “love to see that across the board.”
Despite some critics pointing out that Walz appeared nervous during the debate, there were moments of empathy and common ground between the candidates.
For instance, when Walz shared that his teenage son, Gus, had witnessed a shooting at a community centre, Vance expressed heartfelt sympathy, saying, “I’m sorry about that. Christ, have mercy. It is awful.”
Both candidates also acknowledged their shared concern over the issue of gun violence, particularly school shootings, with Walz noting that he believed Vance hated the epidemic as much as he did.
This moment of agreement is contrasted with the broader heated political discourse surrounding the upcoming election, where tensions continue to run high.
