CBS’ “60 Minutes” is facing backlash after it aired a segment Sunday night delving into the prosecution of Capitol Hill rioters on Jan. 6 — just hours after a second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
The decision to air the segment sparked outrage online, with Trump supporters claiming the hurtful rhetoric fueled violent attacks on Trump.
“Wow. Just hours after the second assassination of President Trump and CBS is using their @60Minutes to attack him as a ‘threat to democracy’ on January 6th,” former Trump adviser Steve Cortes wrote on X.
“No matter how much you hate the corporate media, it’s not enough,” Cortes wrote.
Donald Trump Jr. retweeted Cortes’ post, adding, “WTF is wrong with you guys? @60Minutes @CBSNews.”
Another X-user called the Jan. 6 segment a “panic move as Trump polls rise,” as polls turned in Trump’s favor after the first assassination attempt at a rally in July, leaving him with bleeding from the ear.
“Do you think they would have 60 Minutes and all the other network shows on as scheduled if an assassin tried to kill Obama this afternoon?” another user posted on X. “The media hates Trump enough to want him dead and they hate anyone who supports him.”
The episode — which featured host Scott Pelley’s interviews with Jan. 6 protesters, police officers and U.S. attorneys — was the long-running season 57 premiere of the TV news magazine.
It aired just hours after Trump was rushed to safety after Secret Service agents saw a man with an AK-47 near his golf course, law enforcement officials said.
After the assassination of Trump in July, there were calls from both ends of the political spectrum for the media and politicians to tone down their rhetoric.
Conservatives have pointed the finger at left-leaning politicians and media outlets, blaming their politically fueled work for the violence against the former president.
The “60 Minutes” episode delved into the Jan. 6 riots on Capitol Hill, which Trump was blamed for.
In this segment, Pelley reported that the January 6 indictment is the largest in US history, with more than 1,000 rebels convicted and about 350 trials still pending.
However, Trump has called those who attacked the Capitol “patriots” and is seeking to pardon them, Pelley said.
CBS reported on the assassination shortly before 3:00 p.m., with continuous coverage throughout the day and a special report that broke on NFL football.
The network declined to comment on its decision to air the “60 Minutes” episode.
#Minutes #faces #backlash #airing #segment #Capitol #riots #hours #Trump #assassination #attempt
Image Source : nypost.com