During coverage of the horrific mass shootings that happened over the weekend, on Monday, NBC’s Today show eagerly touted Democrats rushing to blame President Trump’s rhetoric for the attack in El Paso, Texas. Several quotes from 2020 Democratic presidential candidates claiming the President “bears some responsibility” for the killings were featured in the report.
“And a lot of people looking at Washington now. The two mass shootings quickly reignited the nationwide debates over guns, immigration, and racism,” co-host Savannah Guthrie proclaimed. White House correspondent Kristen Welker followed up by announcing: “It comes as some Democrats are calling on the President to not only take action but to change his rhetoric.”
After playing clips of the President speaking to reporters on Sunday, Welker pointed out: “Mr. Trump ignored questions about whether the El Paso shooter’s anti-immigrant essay shared similarities with some of his own rhetoric.” She then added: “And now, some of the President’s previous public comments targeting undocumented immigrants are facing renewed scrutiny.”
The reporter then turned to Trump’s political opponents to pile on:
WELKER: Now, several Democratic presidential candidates argue the President bears some responsibility for the shooting in El Paso.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS [I-VT]: I say to President Trump, please stop the racist, anti-immigrant rhetoric.
FMR. REP. BETO O’ROURKE [D-TX]: These are white men motivated by the kind of fear that this President traffics in.
WELKER: Joe Biden tweeting, “We must do what Trump won’t: condemn this evil and eradicate it from our society.”
She at least briefly allowed for some response to those accusations: “White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney defending his boss and pushing back.” A soundbite ran of Mulvaney telling Chuck Todd on Sunday’s Meet the Press: “I blame the people who pulled the trigger, Chuck. Goodness gracious, is someone really blaming the President? These people are sick.”
Amazingly, none of the network morning shows on Monday mentioned reports that the shooter in Dayton, Ohio was a self-described “leftist,” Antifa supporter, and fan of liberal politicians like Elizabeth Warren.
NBC’s nasty coverage echoed similar reporting on CBS This Morning that hyped Democrats’ claims that “Trump should be held accountable” for the violence.
Here is a full transcript of the August 5 report from Welker on NBC’s Today:
7:10 AM ET
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: And a lot of people looking at Washington now. The two mass shootings quickly reignited the nationwide debates over guns, immigration, and racism. NBC White House correspondent Kristen Welker joins us with more on that. Kristen, good morning.
KRISTEN WELKER: Savannah, good morning to you. In just a few hours, President Trump will deliver remarks here at the White House. In perhaps a preview of what he might say, he tweeted just moments ago, “Republicans and Democrats must come together and get strong background checks, perhaps marrying this legislation with desperately needed immigration reform.” It comes as some Democrats are calling on the President to not only take action but to change his rhetoric.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Pressure Mounts on President and Congress; Mass Shootings Bring Gun Control Issue Front and Center]
WELKER: In his first public remarks after the devastating shootings in Dayton and El Paso, President Trump vowing he will work to end the scourge of gun violence.
DONALD TRUMP: These are two incredible places. We love the people. Hate has no place in our country and we’re going to take care of it.
WELKER: The President was also pressed about what specific actions he plans to take.
TRUMP: We’re talking to a lot of people and a lot of things are in the works and a lot of good things. And we have done much more than most administrations. But this is also a mental illness problem. If you look at both of these cases, this is mental illness.
WELKER: And Mr. Trump ignored questions about whether the El Paso shooter’s anti-immigrant essay shared similarities with some of his own rhetoric. And now, some of the President’s previous public comments targeting undocumented immigrants are facing renewed scrutiny.
TRUMP: When you have 15,000 people marching up –
WELKER: Including these remarks he made in May, during a Florida campaign rally.
TRUMP: How do you stop these people? You can’t.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Shoot them.
TRUMP: That’s only in the panhandle you can get away with that statement.
WELKER: Now, several Democratic presidential candidates argue the President bears some responsibility for the shooting in El Paso.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS [I-VT]: I say to President Trump, please stop the racist, anti-immigrant rhetoric.
FMR. REP. BETO O’ROURKE [D-TX]: These are white men motivated by the kind of fear that this President traffics in.
WELKER: Joe Biden tweeting, “We must do what Trump won’t: condemn this evil and eradicate it from our society.” White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney defending his boss and pushing back.
MICK MULVANEY: I blame the people who pulled the trigger, Chuck. Goodness gracious, is someone really blaming the President? These people are sick.
WELKER: While the President did not explicitly condemn white nationalism, his daughter, Ivanka Trump, did, tweeting, “White supremacy, like all other forms of terrorism, is an evil that must be destroyed.”
Overnight, calls for action also making their way to a soccer field in D.C. After scoring a goal during a televised match, Philadelphia Union captain Alejandro Bedoya grabbing a microphone to make a plea to lawmakers.
ALEJANDRO BEDOYA: Congress, do something now! End gun violence. Let’s go!
WELKER: This morning, some Democrats are calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring the Senate back from August recess so they can pass new gun safety measures. Among them, former Congresswoman Gabby Gifford saying in a statement, “We cannot afford to wait another day for lawmakers to address this horrific national public safety threat.” Right now, there’s no indication McConnell plans to have lawmakers return. Savannah and Willie?
GUTHRIE: Alright, Kristen, thank you. We should mention NBC News will have live coverage of the President’s remarks later this morning on most of these NBC stations.
