A CNN correspondent criticized former President Trump for shouting “fight back!” to his supporters in the immediate aftermath of Saturday's shocking assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.
On Saturday night, Trump was seen bleeding from his ear as he was rushed off the stage shortly after a gunman opened fire at his rally. As Secret Service agents pulled him away once the shooter was killed, Trump raised his hand and shouted “fight!” repeatedly, to roars of appreciation from his supporters.
CNN special correspondent Jamie Gangel suggested the likely Republican nominee was sending the wrong message.
“I mean there was one thing that when I watched the tape that struck me as odd because of all the heated rhetoric, and that is that after he was beaten, former President Trump stood up and said, 'fight, fight, fight,'” Gangel said.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is seen with blood on his face surrounded by Secret Service agents as he is led off stage at a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images (Rebecca Droke/AFP via Getty Images)
“I think what we're hearing from people is that that's not the message we want to send right now. We want to tone it down,” he said.
SHOOTING AT TRUMP RALLY BEING INVESTIGATED AS POSSIBLE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
Gangel's comments drew criticism from some conservatives, many of whom were excited by Trump's defiance at the time. The attacker reportedly killed at least one attendee and seriously injured two others.
CBS anchor Margaret Brennan similarly chided Trump on Saturday for failing to urge his supporters to lower the political “temper” in her social media statement, where she expressed condolences for the other victims and thanked law enforcement for their swift response.
Trump was released from a Pittsburgh-area hospital on Saturday night and is now safe.
After addressing the nation and condemning the “sick” attack, President Biden spoke to Trump by phone. Other former presidents and bipartisan voices also condemned the shooting and wished Trump a speedy recovery.
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is carried from the stage at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
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Fox News' Charles Creitz and Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
