According to footage obtained by The New York Times, Trump supporters attending an event hosted by a pro-Trump group, American Priority, at Trump National Doral Miami were treated to a violent video last week. The video featured Trump opening fire, “stabbing and brutally assaulting members of the news media and his political opponents” inside of the “Church of Fake News.”
The video, which includes the logo for Mr. Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign, comprises a series of internet memes. The most violent clip shows Mr. Trump’s head superimposed on the body of a man opening fire inside the “Church of Fake News” on parishioners who have the faces of his critics or the logos of media organizations superimposed on their bodies. It appears to be an edited scene of a church massacre from the 2014 dark comedy film “Kingsman: The Secret Service.”
NYT:
Several of Trump’s surrogates attended the event, including Florida’s governor Rick DeSantis, Trump Jr., and Sister Sarah Sanders. All of them claim they were not aware of the video and didn’t see it.
Trump has made videos in the past of him attacking the press. According to The Times, the following tweet pales in comparison to the video shown last week.
The organizer of the event, Alex Phillips, said, “Content was submitted by third parties and was not associated with or endorsed by the conference in any official capacity. American Priority rejects all political violence and aims to promote a healthy dialogue about the preservation of free speech. This matter is under review.”
Tim Murtaugh, spokesman for the Trump campaign, also claimed he was unaware of the video and “the campaign does not condone violence.”
***I found the video right before hitting the ‘publish’ button. Warning: This is violent, graphic, and gruesome.
Update: Press Secretary Stephanie (on the Rocks) Grisham tweets on behalf of Trump:
