Media outlets that appeal to conservatives offered condemnations, explanations and deflections following the U.S. Capitol riot by President Donald Trump’s supporters, but little introspection, according to David Bauder at The Associated Press.
Dealing with the shocking breach of the national landmark was a complex task for outlets aimed at Trump’s base, many of whom are suspicious of more mainstream news sources. Most were clear: the violence was indefensible.
Fox News Channel’s Tucker Carlson said that voting is democracy’s pressure relief valve but trouble ensues when people lose faith in the act.
“Millions of Americans sincerely believe the last election was fake,” Carlson said. “You can dismiss them as crazy, you can call them conspiracy theorists, you can kick them off Twitter, but that won’t change their minds.”
Opponents would rather silence these people — many of whom have made Carlson television’s top-rated political opinion host — than understand them, he said.
“It’s not your fault,” he said. “It’s their fault.”
Carlson’s colleague, Sean Hannity, denounced the violence. Like his show has consistently over the past few months, however, he amplified Trump’s claims of wrongdoing. Hannity said the vast majority of people who attended Trump’s rally in Washington were peaceful.
Fox highlighted its lineup of prime-time opinion stars Wednesday, in contrast to networks like ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and MSNBC, which focused more on members of Congress speaking about the election certification.
A number of Fox personalities expressed disgust in the riot’s wake, including Stuart Varney, Karl Rove and Geraldo Rivera. “Fox & Friends” host Brian Kilmeade on Thursday said Trump’s behavior since the election has been “terrible.”
Several figures in conservative media suggested liberal politicians and mainstream media outlets are more outraged when Trump supporters are violent than they were about civil rights demonstrations last summer.
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