"Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST," the president tweets after reports emerge about suspicious packages sent to the De Niro and Biden.
Donald Trump's presidency is taking more heat from Hollywood and the media in wake of ten dangerous packages being sent to politicians, CNN and now even Robert De Niro and former Vice President Joe Biden.
Journalists and a number of Hollywood stars agree: Trump's rhetoric is dangerous and these terrorism attempts prove it.
Late-Night Hosts Think Trump Blew It with Retweet Response to Bombs Targeting Democrats, CNN
View StoryAnd even after seeing CNN's New York City headquarters targeted on the same day other packages were sent to Trump's political rivals -- Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, billionaire George Soros, former Attorney General Eric Holder, Democratic Senator Maxine Waters -- he proceeded to blame the media in an early morning tweet Thursday.
"A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News," he tweeted. "It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!"
Filmmaker Michael Moore pointed out that the tweet came 30 minutes after news broke about a bomb being sent to De Niro.
"At 7:18am this morning, just 30minutes after the news broke of the bomb at Robert De Niro's offices, u tweeted your latest threat to the media, blaming them for bringing this terrorism on themselves," the Oscar-winning documentarian tweeted. "You are sick. But don't worry. A cure for your vile behavior is coming in 12days (sic)."
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View StoryTrump's tweet followed similar messaging to loyal supporters at a rally in Wisconsin on Wednesday. After kicking off the event by calling the bombs "an attack on our Democracy itself" and vowing justice, he called for "all sides to come together in peace and harmony." He blamed the media for failing "to set a civil tone and to stop the endless hostility and constant negative and oftentimes false attacks and stories."
He did not, however, recognize that he himself has made hostile comments about several of the politicians targeted. He also did not condemn the foiled attacks as acts of terrorism at the rally or earlier in the day, prompting Samuel L. Jackson to tweet, "TERRORISM Muthafukkah, Can You Say it???!!!!!!"
CNN on-air personalities were appalled.
“It is unpresidential, and it is destructive at any time, particularly in such an incendiary political moment,” David Gregory said Thursday morning, adding, "He only thinks — and it goes back from the first day. He only thinks he's governing for his supporters. The rest of the country doesn't matter. And, you know, it's well beyond, you know, being unpresidential."
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View StoryBrian Stelter marveled at the reaction from Trump and his #MAGA fan club.
"Yeah they're playing the victim card, engaging in victimhood politics, saying that because people are talking about how Trump's rhetoric is a problem, that somehow he's being blamed for these bombs, and as a result, he's the victim of this,” the media analyst said. "Look, it's nonsense."
“Where is the president, today? Because that guy on Twitter, that's a Fox News host,” he continued. “That guy railing against the media, that's a Fox News host. That's not the president. The president hasn't shown leadership in the last few hours. He did say some nice things yesterday, but then he turned around and went against the media again."
Meanwhile on MSNBC on Thursday morning, "Morning Joe" co-host Mika Brzezinski called the attacks a "reflection of his rhetoric" and called on Republicans to stop defending the president.
"And note to Republicans, this is something you can't let go by anymore. You can't. Our country is at risk. We have been attacked," she said. "It's no longer okay to say I don't like his tweets but -- it's no longer to say I don't like his bullying, but -- it's no longer okay to say I don't really support that, but. It's no longer okay to say nothing, It's no questions, to not speak out when it is very we have dangerous rhetoric resonating from the White House every day."
"Step up, do the right thing," she challenged Republicans. "Do not turn away and turn your back to it. Please, don't. Please don't."
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View StoryAnd Hollywood stars were busy making the connection between the bombs and Trump's rhetoric throughout the day on Wednesday.
"Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane tweeted, "It's almost as if the words of the President of the United States — who calls the press 'the enemy of the people,' and applauds a politician for assaulting a journalist — have consequences."
Jim Carrey shared that sentiment while tweeting out another political drawing with his opinion that "these terrorists were encouraged and emboldened by the hate speech of Donald Trump."
"If you can't see the clear menace of this man's influence by now then you are a part of it," Carrey added.
See how Hollywood has been speaking out below.
Trump — you know EXACTLY what you're doing when you threaten repercussions against the media and violence against your opponents and, in your most infamous act of hate, your shout-out to your “Second Amendment people” to take action against Hillary — “you know what to do.” pic.twitter.com/zPxe7eEsTM
@MMFlint
At 7:18am this morning, just 30minutes after the news broke of the bomb at Robert De Niro's offices, u tweeted your latest threat to the media, blaming them for bringing this terrorism on themselves. You are sick. But don't worry. A cure for your vile behavior is coming in 12days pic.twitter.com/hctGHMtkSP
@MMFlint
We must not be intimidated into silence. Terrorism isn't just about inflicting physical harm, it's biggest objective is to silence people, to stop people from doing and saying the things that other people find threatening.
@kathygriffin
This one's for you Robert De Niro: FUCK TRUMP
TERRORISM Muthafukkah, Can You Say it???!!!!!!
@SamuelLJackson
It's almost as if the words of the President of the United States — who calls the press “the enemy of the people”, and applauds a politician for assaulting a journalist — have consequences.https://t.co/khMHbV1nQz
@SethMacFarlane
It's almost as if the President calling someone the “enemy” can have violent consequences.
@kumailn
Today they tried to murder two Presidents as well as public servants and journalists. Make no mistake, these terrorists were encouraged and emboldened by the hate speech of Donald Trump. If you can't see the clear menace of this man's influence by now then you are a part of it. pic.twitter.com/L7kYcpcPKO
@JimCarrey
What's happening is all the hate and divisiveness being sowed by the person in the White House and his surrogates is coming to a head and people are in mortal danger. There will be blood on their hands.
@BetteMidler
I see we're capitalizing Anger now. Got it. The rest of this was just blah blah blah when I read it. https://t.co/lTDSuqC7BA
@GeorgeTakei