A recent analysis conducted by the Media Research Center (MRC) has found that media coverage of Donald Trump, following a second attempt on his life, was 95% negative.

The study focused on three major networks -- ABC, CBS, and NBC -- during the 72 hours after the assassination attempt, and despite the significant nature of the attack, these outlets largely centered their coverage on criticisms of Trump rather than the causes or motives behind the incident, as Breitbart reports.

The MRC analysis revealed that out of 21 evaluative comments about Trump, 20 were negative, even as the attempted assassination dominated media coverage.

The assassination attempt occurred at Trump International Golf Course in Florida and was allegedly carried out by Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old who cited "communist left rhetoric" as his motive.

Secret Service agents intervened, shooting Routh before he could cause any harm to Trump. The thwarted attack was widely reported, but the nature of the coverage has raised concerns.

Networks Focus Heavily on Criticizing Trump

According to the MRC, the combined airtime of ABC, CBS, and NBC over the first 72 hours after the incident totaled 48 minutes. However, only 1 minute and 53 seconds of that time was devoted to exploring whether Democratic rhetoric might have contributed to inciting the violence.

Rich Noyes, contributing editor for the MRC, highlighted the findings, noting that the networks’ portrayal of Trump during this period remained overwhelmingly negative. “A look at the first 72 hours of coverage... finds that while the attempted assassination dominated campaign coverage, these networks’ anti-Trump spin was nearly as bad as it could be: 95 percent negative, vs. just five percent positive,” he wrote.

NBC’s Lester Holt noted the “fierce rhetoric” surrounding the campaign trail, reporting that Trump and his running mate JD Vance had made “baseless claims” about Haitian immigrants in Ohio. This criticism reflected a broader pattern, as other anchors and reporters focused on Trump’s own use of inflammatory language.

Minimal Focus on Alleged Attacker's Motive

The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, blamed "communist left rhetoric" for his actions, according to early reports. Despite this, the media dedicated little time to examining Routh's stated motive or the potential role of political discourse in escalating violence.

Instead, figures such as CBS anchor Norah O'Donnell pointed to Trump’s rhetoric as a potential factor increasing the threat of political violence. O'Donnell referred to comments Trump made in Springfield, Ohio, about Haitian immigrants, asserting that they were having an impact on "everyday life" in the area.

NBC reporter Garrett Haake also noted that Trump had used "incendiary language" against Democrats, adding to the tone of criticism across the networks.

Second Attempt on Trump’s Life in as Many Months

This was the second assassination attempt targeting Donald Trump in less than two months. The first attack took place at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a man named Thomas Matthew Crooks allegedly killed one person and injured two others while attempting to assassinate the former president. These incidents have heightened concerns about the safety of political figures and the escalating violence tied to political rhetoric in the country.

Despite the gravity of these attacks, the MRC's findings suggest that media coverage of Trump following the second attempt remained focused on his perceived missteps rather than the violence directed against him. Of the 48 minutes of coverage dedicated to the Florida incident, the analysis found that just under two minutes were spent discussing whether Democratic rhetoric could have played a role in inciting the violence.

Limited Coverage of Political Rhetoric’s Role

The MRC report indicates that while networks provided extensive coverage of the assassination attempt, they downplayed the attacker’s claimed motivation. This discrepancy has fueled criticism from conservative media watchers, who argue that the media's focus on Trump’s rhetoric, rather than the suspect's, reflects a broader bias in news coverage.

This sentiment was echoed in the MRC’s statement, which noted, “Out of 48 minutes of coverage of the attempted shooting, the three networks spent less than two minutes (1 minute, 53 seconds) on the possibility that Democrats could share the blame.”

The analysis has sparked conversations about the role of media in shaping public perceptions during moments of political violence. Critics argue that a more balanced approach would require greater attention to the context and motivations behind such incidents, rather than placing disproportionate emphasis on one individual’s rhetoric.

Ongoing Debate About Media Fairness

The findings from the MRC come at a time when media bias and its impact on political discourse are being increasingly scrutinized. The organization’s analysis of the second assassination attempt suggests that major networks focused more on criticizing Trump’s campaign tactics than investigating the cause of the attack itself.

This has prompted calls for more comprehensive and fair reporting in situations where political violence is involved. As the 2024 election approaches, the media's treatment of high-profile political figures remains a subject of intense debate. The way networks report on events like the assassination attempt on Donald Trump could influence voter perceptions, not only of the candidates themselves but also of the broader political climate in the United States.