Donald Trump Jr. has criticized CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, accusing the media of contributing to the environment that led to two recent assassination attempts on his father, former President Donald Trump. Speaking after the vice-presidential debate, Trump Jr. emotionally recounted how he had to explain the assassination attempts to his five children twice in two months, blaming the media for what he described as creating a toxic atmosphere.
During the interview, Trump Jr. referenced the July 13 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where his father narrowly avoided being shot, and a second incident at Trump’s Palm Beach golf course last month. He argued that years of negative media coverage, particularly allegations of ties to Russia, had “radicalized the people” targeting his father.
Collins responded by defending the media, stating that no one wanted threats against Trump’s life and that the media couldn’t be blamed for such violence. Trump Jr., however, pushed back, asserting that labeling his father “Hitler” for years had contributed to the hostility.
The heated exchange followed an otherwise civil vice-presidential debate between Senator JD Vance and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, which Collins had described as “very civil” and marked by moments of agreement between the two candidates.