Republican Senator Eric Schmitt spoke to CNN host Kate Bolduan about the network’s coverage of President Donald Trump’s rhetoric one day before the 2024 election. Schmitt accused CNN of creating a “fake outrage” over Trump’s statements, arguing that the network is trying to divert attention from the fact that Vice President Kamala Harris has called Trump a fascist and Joe Biden has insulted half of America. Schmitt believes that CNN is focused on attacking Trump because he has momentum in the election as the designated change candidate, with a 2-to-1 margin in his favor.
Bolduan defended the network’s coverage, stating that many Republicans are unhappy with Trump’s rhetoric and that he should understand the dangers of heated language after being the victim of two assassination attempts. She asked Schmitt if he was okay with Trump’s recent comment suggesting that a bullet should go through “fake news” reporters.
In response, Schmitt brought attention to the fact that Trump has faced two assassination attempts and that the media has not given it proper coverage, whereas they would have if it had happened to Kamala Harris. He also stated that he had spent time with Trump over the weekend and that his message is clear: Kamala Harris has broken things and Trump plans to fix them. He accused the media of trying to marginalize Trump and his supporters by constantly bringing up clips to create outrage, but that people see through this tactic and know the truth.
Schmitt continued to support Trump and his policies, arguing that Americans are not safe in their communities due to illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and rising rates of violent crime. He referenced the recent border crisis and the influx of fentanyl from drug cartels, emphasizing the importance of securing the border and keeping American citizens safe.
The discussion also brought up recent media coverage of Trump, such as when he was accused of calling for Liz Cheney to be executed by a firing squad. Schmitt stated that this was a misinterpretation of Trump’s statement and accused the media of trying to label him as violent and dangerous. The conversation also touched on a comment made by a comedian at a Trump rally, where he joked about Puerto Rico being a “floating island of garbage.” Biden used this joke to label Trump supporters as “garbage,” a statement that Schmitt condemned.
Schmitt strongly supports President Donald Trump and believes that the media is unfairly attacking him in an attempt to deflect from the failures of the current administration. He argues that the American people see through these tactics and will ultimately vote for Trump in the upcoming election, citing his strong stance on issues such as immigration and crime as reasons for the public’s support.