As news of a fatal mass shooting at a community newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland surfaced, the online conversation quickly turned to President Trump's reputation for inciting violence against the press.
At least five people were killed in the horrific shooting at the Capital Gazettenewsroom on Thursday. While the shooter's motive hasn't been confirmed by police, he has sent social media threats to the newsroom before -- the latest were sent yesterday, according to authorities. And top of mind for many was Trump's tendency to villainize reporters.
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The suspect, who has been reportedly identified as 38-year-old Jarrod Ramos by unnamed law enforcement, filed a defamation lawsuit against a Capital Gazettereporter in 2012 for reporting that he harassed a woman he went to high school with, reconnecting with her at first through Facebook. The case was thrown out. In 2015, a Twitter account under Ramos' name tagged the paper and said calling Trump unqualified "could end badly."
SEE ALSO: 10 moments from Trump's summit so bad that your soul will turn to dustAfter the Annapolis shooting, Trump offered his boilerplate response to mass shootings: thoughts and prayers.
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Today, Trump sends the newsroom prayers, but in the past, he has encouraged violence against the media and mistrust for his own political gain. Here is just a sampling of the (documented) times he's done so.
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During a rally in Phoenix in August 2017, Trump led the crowd into chanting "CNN sucks." According to the New York Times, audience members hurled insults at reporters covering the event, "demanding that they stop tormenting the president with questions about his ties to Russia." Journalists outside dodged rocks and tear gas while covering a protest after the event.
Before the 2016 election, Trump said it was a "great honor" to receive praise from Russian president Vladimir Putin. Although the Kremlin denies political killings, Human Rights Watch says Russia is "far from a safe place" for independent journalists. The Washington Posthighlighted 10 of Putin's critics who died in violent and suspicious ways.
He also defended his campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, who was charged with simple battery for assaulting Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields when he yanked her away from Trump.
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In May 2017, Trump lauded Republican Greg Gianforte, calling his success in Montana's House special election a "great win." Gianforte was recorded body slamming Guardianreporter Ben Jacobs just days earlier. A Fox News team witnessed Gianforte punching Jacobs, breaking his glasses, and yelling "I'm sick and tired of this!"
Later that year, the Philippines' dictator Rodrigo Duterte called journalists "spies" when asked about human rights issues, and Trump laughed. Duterte has previously threatened reporters, warning them that they "are not exempted from assassination."
Nearly a year before the 2016 election, Trump told a pre-Christmas rally how much he hates news organizations.
"I would never kill them, but I do hate them," he joked to the audience. "And some of them are such lying, disgusting people. It's true."
